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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


PIONEER    HISTORY 

OF 

ORLEANS    COUNTY, 

:N^  JE  ^W     YORK. 

CONTAINING 

SOME  ACCOUNT   OF    THE    CIVIL    DIVISIONS 
OF  WESTERN  NEW  YORK, 

WITH  BRIEF  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES    OF    EARLY    SETTLERS,    AND  OF 

THE  HARDSHIPS  AND  PRIVATIONS  THEY   ENDURED,   THE 

ORGANIZATION     OF     THE     TOWNS     EN     THE 

COUNTY,   TOGETHER  AVITH 

LISTS  OF   TOWN  AND  COUNTY  OFFICEIIS, 

SINCE   THE  COUNTY   WAS    ORGANIZED, 

WITH  ANECDOTES  AND  REMINISCENCES,  ILLUSTRATING  THE 

CHARACTER  AND   CUSTOMS   OF   THE  PEOPLE, 

BY 

ARAB     THOMAS. 


ALBION,    N.    Y.: 

H.   A.   BRUNER,  ORLEANS  AMERICAN  STEAM  PRESS  PRINT. 
1871. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by 

ARAD  THOMAS, 

In  tlie  Clerk's  Office  of  tlie  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 

Northern  District  of  New  York. 


V 


^fbicution. 


TO  THE 

ORI,EANS  COUNTY  TIONEER  ASSOCIATION, 

BY  KEQUEST  OF  MANY  OF  WHOSE  MEMBERS  THIS  WORK 

WAS  UNDERTAKEN,  BY  WHOM   THE   AUTHOR  HAS  BEEN  GREATLY  AIDED 

IN  TREPARING   IT,   AND  TO  WHOM  HE   FEELS  UNDER 

OBLIGATIONS  FOR  MANY  PERSONAL  FAA'ORS, 

THIS  BOOK  IS  RESPECTFULLY 

DEDICATED  BY  THE 

AUTHOR. 


1^ 


1101131 


PREFACE. 

The  origin  of  this  "book  is  briefly  this  :  The  Orleans 
County  Pioneer  Association  had  collected  a  volume  in 
manuscript  of  local  history  of  many  of  its  members, 
written  by  themselves,  Vv^hich  they  desired  to  have 
published. 

Some  difficulty  existed  in  getting  out  the  work  by 
the  Association,  and  the  author  was  requested  Ty 
many  of  his  friends  to  get  up  a  book  on  his  own  ac- 
count, which  should  contain  the  substance  of  the  his- 
tories referred  to,  and  such  other  matter  connected 
with  the  Pioneer  History  of  Orleans  County,  as  might 
be  of  general  interest  to  readers. 

The  author  has  used,  the  records  of  the  Association, 
taking  some  histories  of  Pioneers  in  full,  as  wTitten 
by  themselves  ;  and  extracting  and  condensing  from 
others  such  parts  as  he  thought  of  more  general  inter- 
est, and  as  his  space  would  allow. 

Many  of  his  facts  he  has  collected  from  liis  own 
knowledge,  and  from  the  testimony  of  early  settlers, 
and  others  acquainted  with  the  matter. 

To  those  who  have  so  kindly  aided  him  by  such  in- 
formation as  they  possessed,  he  returns  his  sincerest 
thanks,  particularly  to  Messrs.  Asa  Sanford,  Matthew 
Gregory  and  Hon.  Robert  Anderson,  for  their  gener- 
ous contributions  of  material  for  this  book. 

The  character  of  tliis  book  being  local,  many  names 
of  persons,  and  events  of  private  history  have  been  in- 
troduced, of  little  interest  perhaps  out  of  the  families 
and  neighborhood  of  the  parties  ;  but  with  these  the- 
author  has  endeavored  to  collect  and  preserve  the; 


PREFACE.  V 

memory  of  such  events  of  a  more  public  character, 
as  marked  the  progress  of  settlement  of  this  portion 
of  the  Holland  Purchase,  and  as  may  be  worthy  of 
remembrance. 

For  this  purpose  O'Eeiley's  Sketches  of  Eochester, 
Turner's  History  of  Phelps  and  Gorham's  Purchase, 
and  of  the  Holland  Purchase,  and  French' s  Gazetteer 
<j»f  New  York,  have  been  consulted,  and  such  extracts 
and  compilations  made  as  could  be  found  there. 

It  has  been  an  object,  kept  in  view,  to  collect  as 
much  personal  reminiscence  as  possible,  for  the  grat- 
ification of  the  older  inhabitants  of  Orleans  County, 
for  whom  the  book  was  more  particularly  designed. 

Errors  in  dates,  events,  names  and  narratives,  no 
doubt  may  be  found  in  the  work.  Such  errors  are 
unavoidable  in  giving  details  of  statements  of  aged 
people,  often  contiicting  in  their  character,  and  the  in- 
telligent reader  may  sometimes  regret  that  he  finds  no 
notice  here  of  facts  and  incidents  in  the  Pioneer  His- 
tory of  this  region  of  country,  which  he  may  deem  of 
more  importance  than  much  of  the  matter  the  book 
contains. 

Some  such  facts  and  incidents  may  not  have  come 
to  the  notice  of  the  author,  and  he  has  been  compell- 
ed to  omit  much  matter  of  interest,  lest  his  work 
should  be  too  large,  beyond  the  plan  proposed. 

Much  as  apology  may  seem  to  be  needed,  the  au- 
thor has  little  to  make,  more  than  to  say  he  is  not  a 
professional  book  maker,  and  has  no  hope  of  found- 
ing a  literary  reputation  on  this  work.  He  has  little 
fear  therefore  of  critics,  and  will  be  happy,  if  by  this 
labor  he  has  pleased  the  old  settlers  of  Orleans  County 
and  done  his  part  to  save  from  oblivion,  good  matter 
for  history,  fast  passing  away  ;  for  in  the  beautiful 
language  of  Whittier— 

"  still  from  the  hurryinf?  train  of  life,  fly  backward  far  anil  fast, 
The  mile  stones  of  the  fathers,— the  laudmarlts  of  the  past." 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Indians  of  "Western  ISTew-York — Their  Traditionary  History — An- 
cient Fortifications  in  Shelb}' — Their  Friendship  for  the  "White  Man 
in  the  "War  of  1812 — Fishing  and  Hunting. 
CHAPTER  II. 

Phelps  and  Gorliani's  Purchase — "When  made — Territory  Inchided  in 
— Consolidated  Securities — Their  Sale  to  Robert  Morris — Divisions 
of  their  Purchase — The  Triangle. 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  100,000  Acre  Tract— Boundaries— Dr.  Levi  Ward— Levi  A.  Ward 
— Joseph  Fellows — Transit  Line. 

CHAPTER  lY. 

The  Holland  Purchase — Names  of  Company — Location  of  Tract — Sur- 
veys— Ceded  by  Indians — Counties  in  New- York  One  Hundred  Years 
Ago — Genesee  Country — Genesee  County  and  its  Subdivisions — Jo- 
seph Ellicott  and  brother  Benj.,  Surveyors — Agent  of  the  Company 
— Land  Office — Where  Located — Practice  in  Locating  Land — Arti- 
cles— Clemency  of  the  Land  Company — Deeding  Lots  for  School 
Houses — Land  Given  to  Religious  Societies — Anecdote  of  3Ir.  Busti 
Rev.  Andrew  Rawson — Route  ot  Travel  to  Orleans  County — Oak 
Orchard  Creek  and  Johnson's  Creek — Why  so  Named — Kinds  of 
Forest  Trees — Wild  Animals — Salmon  and  other  Fish — Rattlesnakes 
— Raccoons  and  Hedgehogs — Beaver  Dams — Fruits — Effect  of  Clear- 
ing Land  on  Chmate — The  Tonawanda  Swamps. 
CHAPTER  V. 

The  Log  House — Description — How  Built— Windows  and  Door — Walls 
Raised  at  a  Bee — Chimneys — Ovens — Cellars — Double  Log  House — 
Copied  after  Indian  Wigwam — Fires — Great  Back  Log — Lights. 

CHAPTER  YI. 
Log  House  Furniture — Beds  and  Bedding — Fire  Place — Hooks  and 
Trammel — Bake  Pan — Table — Chairs — Pewter  Spoons — Blue  Edged 
Plates— Black  Earthen  Tea  Pots. 

CHAPTER  YII. 
Clearing  Land  and  First  Crops — Cutting  down  the  Trees — Black  Salts 
— Slashing — Clearing — Fallow — Planting   and  Sowing — Harvesting 
and  Cleaning  Up — How  Done. 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Hardships  and  Privations— Want  of  Breadstuff— Scarcity  of  Mills — 
Difficulty  of  getting  Grain  Ground — Mill  on  a  Stump — Fever  and 
Ague— Quinine  and  Blue  Pill— No  Post  Office— Keeping  Cattle- 
Difficulty  Keeping  Fire — Instance  ot  Fire  Out — Want  of  Good  Water 
— No  Highways — Discouragement  from  Sickness — Social  Amuse- 
ments-Hospitality— Early  Merchants — Their  Stores  and  Goods — 
Domestic  ]yianufactures — Post  Offices  and  Mails. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Erie  Canal— When  Begun- Effect- Rise  in  Price  of  Every  thing- 
Progress  of  Improvement — Carriages  on  Springs. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Public  Highways— The  Ridge  Road— When  Laid  Out— Appropriation 

— Oak  Orchard  Road— Opened  by  Holland  Company — Road  from 

Shelby  to  Oak  Orchard  in  Barrc— Salt  Works  Roads— State  Road 

along  Canal— Judge  Porter's  Account  of  first  Tracing  the  Ridge 

Road. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Railroads — Medina  and  Darieu — Medina  and  Lake  Ontario— Roches- 
ter, Lockport  and  Niagara  Falls. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
State  of  Education — School  Houses — Description — Gaines  Academy — 
Other  Academics  and  Schools. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
State  of  Religion — Religious  Feeling  among  the  People — Ministers  and 
Missionaries — Meeting  House  in  Gaines — First  in  County — Building. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Burying  Grounds — Mount  Albion  Cemetery — Boxwood  Cemetery. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Town  of  Barre — Fii'fet  settled  along  Oak  Orchard  Road — Laud  Given 
by  the  Holland  Company  to  Congregational  Society — Congregational 
Church — Presbyterian  Church  in  Albion — First  Tavcrn-^Firsl  Store 
— First  Lawyer — First  Doctor — First  Deed  of  Land  to  Settler— Deeds 
of  Land  in  Albion — First  House  in  Albion — Death  of  Mrs.  McCallis- 
ter — First  Warehouse — First  Saw  Mill — First  Grist  Mill — Trade  in 
Lumber— First  Ball— First  Town  Meeting— Fourth  of  July,  1821— 
First  Wedding  in  Albion — Story — Biographies  of  Earl}'  Settlers. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Village  of  Albion — First  Inhabitants — First  Business  jMen — Strife  Avith 
Gaines  for  Court  House — Strateg}'  used  by  Albion  men  to  get  Court 
House — First  Court  House — Second  Court  House — County  Jail — 
First  Hotel — First  Warehouse — Stone  Flouring  Mill — Lawyers — Di's. 
Nichoson  and  White — First  Tanyard — First  Blacksmiths— Name  of 
the  Villa";e. 


VIU  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Town  of  Carltou — Name — Lumber  Trade — First  ScttlemcRt  of  White 
Men  in  County — James  Walsworth — Village  of  Manilla — Names  of 
Persons  who  took  Articles  of  Land  in  Carlton  in  1803, 1804  and  1805 
— Matthew  Dunham — Curious  Mill  to  Pound  Corn — Dunham's  Saw 
Mill  and  Grist  Mill— First  in  County— First  Frame  Earn— The  Union 
Companj^ — Death  of  Elijah  Brown — First  Children  Born  in  Town — 
First  Store — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Town  of  Clarendon — Difficulty  in  getting  Titles  from  Pultney  Estate — 
Eldredge  Farwell — Farwell's  Mills — First  School — First  Merchants 
— J.  and  D.  Sturgess — First  Postmaster — First  Physician — Presbyte- 
rian Church — First  Town  ^Meeting — Biographies  ol  Early  Settlers. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Town  of  Gaines — First  Settlers — Case  of  Getting  Fire — Noah  Burgess 
— Mrs.  Burgess — Cutting  Logs  for  a  House — First  Orchard — First 
School  House — Drake's  Mill  Dam  and  Saw  Mili — Organization  of 
McCarty's  Militia  Company — Their  Scout  after  British  and  Indians 
— Dr.  Jesse  Beacli — Orange  Butler — First  Marriage — First  Birth — 
First  Newspaper  in  Orleans  County — First  Tayern — Store — Grist 
Mdl — First  IMerchants — James  Mather  Dealing  in  Black  Salts,  &c. — 
Business  at  Gaines  Basin— Village  of  Gaines — Gaines  Academy — Ef- 
forts to  Locate  Court  House  Here — Trade  in  Other  Localities — Biog- 
raphies of  Early  Settlers. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Town  of  Kendall — Partitioned  between  State  of  Connecticut  and  Pult- 
ney Estate— First  Settler— First  IMarriage— First  Birth— First  Tav- 
ern—First Death— First  Store— First  School— First  Saw  Mill— First 
Public  Religious  Service — First  Physician — First  Highway  from 
Kendall  Corners  to  Ridge — Biographies  of  Eariy  Settlers. 
CHAPTER  XXI. 

Town  of  3Iurray— Towns  Set  Off— First  Tavern— First  Marriage— First 
Birth— First  Death— First  Store— First  Grist  Mill— First  School- 
First  Church — Sandy  Creek — McCall  &  Perry's  Mill — Sickness  at 
Sandy  Creek — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 
CHAPTER  XXII. 

Village  of  Holley — Areovcster  Hamlin— First  Store — Post  Office — 
Frisbie  &  Seymour — Early  Merchants — First  Sawmill — Lawyer — 
Tavern — Justice  of  the  Peace — Salt  Brine — Mammoth  Tooth — Salt 
Port — Presbyterian  Church — Salt  Spring. 
CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Village  of  Hulberton— Josei)h  Budd— Canal  Basin— First  Warehouse 
— First  Grocery— First  Tavern— I.  H.  S.  Ilulbert— First  Named  Scio 
— Methodist  Society — Abijah  Reed  and  Sons. 


CONTENTS.  IX 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Village  of  Hindsburgh — Jacob  Luttenton — Jacob  Hinds  and  Brotliers 
— First  Warehouse — Jabez  Allison — First  Hotel. 
CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  Town  of  Ridgewaj — Formed  from  Bata^-ia — First  Town  Meeting 
—Turner  &  White's  Grist  Mill— First  Saw  Mill— Dr.  White— Salt 
Works — First  School — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 
CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Village  of  Medina — Saw  Mill  by  Land  Company — Evan's  Grist  Mill — 
Canal  Feeder — Nixon's  Brewery — Coan's  Store — First  Tavern — First 
Merchants — Physician— Attorney — Quarries— Justus  Ingersoll — Bap- 
tist Meeting  House. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Village  of  Knowlesrille — Wm.  Knowles,  Founder  and  First  Settler — 
First  Clearinii — First  Framed  House — First  Tavern — First  Ware- 
house— First  Boat  Load  of  Wheat — First  Ashery — First  School 
House — Post'OfBce — First  Religious  Society. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Town  of  Shelby — Jo.  Ellicott  Locating  Land — Ellicott's  Mills — Road 
Jrom  Oak  Orchard  Road  to  Shelby — Salt  Works  Road — Anecdote 
of  Lnther  Porter— Col.  A.  A.  Ellicott— Ball  in  Ellicott's  Mill— Abuer 
Hunt — Fiddler  Hackett — First  Ph,ysician — Post  Office — Iron  Foun- 
dry— Tannery — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 
CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Town  of  Yates — Formerly  Northton — George  Houseman — Discourage- 
ment to  Early  Settlement — First  Deed — Tappau's  Tayern — Liquor 
Sold— First  IMarriage- First  Death— First  Store— First  School— Bi- 
ographies of  Early  Settlers. 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Biographical  Notices  of  Joseph  Ellicott  and  Ebcnezer  Mix 


AI^JPENDIX. 

Towns  in  Orleans  Count}' — Their  Organization — Villages  in  Orleans 
County — Table  of  Elevations — ]\Iembers  of  Assembly  Elected  from 
Orleans  Coanty  since  its  Organization — County  Clerks  of  Orleans 
County — County  Treasurers — County  Superintendents  of  Common 
Schools — First  Judges  of  Orleans  County  Courts — District  Attorneys 
of  Orleans  County — Sheriffs  of  Orleans  County — Surrogates  of  Or- 
leans County — First  Courts  of  Record — Supervisors  of  the  Dilferent 
Towns  in  Orleans  County  since  their  Organization — The  Orleans 
County  Pioneer  Association — First  Annual  Address,  Delivered  be- 
fore the  Orleans  County  Pioneer  Association,  Sept.  10, 1859,  by  Arad 
Thomas. 


INTRODUCTION. 

After  tlie  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus,  the 
iirst  settlement  on  tlie  Atlantic  coast  by  Europeans 
was  made  by  English  and  Dutch,  on  the  south,  and 
by  French  on  the  extreme  north.  Ascending  the  great 
river  St.  Lawrence,  the  French  founded  the  cities  ot 
Quebec  and  Montreal ;  and  following  the  river  and 
the  lakes  westward,  they  established  the  settlements 
at  Pittsburgh  and  Detroit,  many  years  before  the  En- 
glish settled  Western  New- York. 

The  xilgonquins  and  Hurons  inhabited  Canada  East 
at  the  coming  of  the  French.  With  these,  from  mo- 
tives of  policy,  they  formed  an  alliance.  These  Cana- 
dian Indians,  and^the  Iroquois  of  Western  ISTew  York, 
were  at  war  with  each  other.  Tlie  French  joined  tlieir 
Indian  allies  in  this  war,  and  thus  incurred  the  invet- 
erate hostility  of  the  Iroquois. 

Many  desperate  battles  were  fought  between  the 
French  and  these  Indians  with  various  success.  The 
Algonquins  and  Hurons  were  driven  out  of  their  coun- 
try, or  destroyed,  and  the  Iroquois  came  near  exter- 
minating the  French  settlements  in  Cairada.  They 
effectually  prevented  their  locating  themselves  in  ISTew 
York,  althongh  they  claimed  this  whole  territory.  A 
few  French  missionaries  only  of  their  peojole  were  tol- 
erated by  the  Iroquois  within  their  country,  excej)t 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  Avhere  the  French 
established  a  trading  post  in  1678.  This  was  taken 
by  the  Englisli  under  Sir  William  Johnson,  in*  1759, 
and  retained  by  them  until  it  was  surrendered  to  the 
United  States  in  179G. 


INTRODUCTION.  ^ 

Inl7->2,  a  trading  house  was  iDuilt  at  Oswego,  Under 
the  direction  of  the  Colonial  government  of  New- York  ; 
and  in  1727,  this  was  strengthened  by  a  fort. 

The  French  protested  against  this  encroachment  up- 
on the  territory  they  claimed,  by  the  English,  and  sev- 
eral times  sent  military  expeditions  to  drive  them  out. 

These  English  establishments  at  Oswego  were  taken 
by  the  French  in  1756,  and  destroyed.  They  were 
rebuilt  by  the  English  in  1758,  and  continued  m  their 
possession  until  1796  ;  they  were  surrendered  to  the 
United  States  under  Jay's  treaty. 

The  French  kept  up  communication  through  Lake 
Ontario,  between  their  western  settlements  and  Que- 
bec but  made  no  other  location  within  the  bounds  ot 
New-York,  being  kept  back  by  the  power  of  the  In- 
dians. .   .      T    T  A 

In  1760,  a  powerful  army  of  British,  Indians,  and 
Provincial  Americans,  was  sent  into  Canada,  under 
Gen  Amherst.  To  these  forces  the  French  surrender- 
ed Canada  and  all  their  western  possessions,  which 
included  their  claim  to  AVestern  New  York. 

The  Iroquois,  or  Six  Nations,  having  early  entered 
into  relations  of  amity  and  friendship  with  the  English, 
remained  true  to  their  engagements  after  the  overthrow 
of  the  French  in  America,  and  so  down  to  the  time  ot 
the  Revolution. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  (xen. 
Philip  Schuyler,  in  a  council  with  the  chiefs  of  the 
Six  Nations,  at  German  Flats,  in  June,  1770,  had  ob- 
tained their  promise  to  remain  neutral  in  that  war.— 
After  the  war  had  been  some  time  in  progress,  howev- 
er Sir  John  Johnson,  Brant,  Col.  John  Butler  and 
other  tories  of  that  day,  prevailed  on  the  Indians  to 
violate  their  pledge,  and  take  up  arms  against  the 
Americans  ;  and  with  the  exception  of  the  Tuscaroras 
and  Oneidas,  they  remained  the  firm  friends  ot  the 
British  through  that  war. 


Xii  INTRODUCTIOlSr. 

Under  the  influence  of  tlie  Johnsons,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  white  inhabitants  in  the  Valley  of  the 
Mohawk  were  tories ;  these  uniting  with  the  hostile 
Indians,  led  by  Butler,  Brant  and  others  made  incur- 
sions, carrying  murder  and  devastation  along  the  fron- 
tier settlements  of  the  Colonies,  and  retreating  with 
their  prisoners  and  plunder  to  the  British  strongholds 
at  Niagara  and  Oswego,  where  they  were  safe. 

This  predatory  warfare  continued  at  intervals,  from 
1775  to  1779,  along  the  Mohawk  and  Susquehanna 
rivers  more  especially. 

In  1779,  Gen.  Sullivan,  with  an  army  of  five  thou- 
sand men,  was  sent  b}^  Gen.  Washington  to  punish 
the  Indians  and  tories  of  New- York,  for  their  conduct 
in  the  war.  He  encountered  them  in  force  in  a  forti- 
fied camp  near  Elmira,  where  they  were  defeated  with 
great  loss.  The  army  of  Gen.  Sullivan  pursued  the 
enemy  to  Canandaigua,  thence  through  their  villages 
in  Livingston  County,  destroying  everything  belong- 
ing to  the  Indians  on  their  route.  But  few  of  the  In- 
dians were  Idlled  after  the  battle  at  Elmira  ;  but  they 
were  thoroughly  frightened,  wasted  and  vanquished, 
and  never  afterwards  resumed  the  occupancy  of  their 
settlements  east  of  the  Genesee  river,  but  on  their  re- 
turn from  flight  before  Sullivan,  they  located  near 
Geneseo,  Gardeau,  Mount  Morris  and  other  places  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State.  The  Oneidas  not  hav- 
ing eno-asred  in  the  war,  were  not  disturbed  in  theu- 
homes. 

The  Indians  were  terribly  beaten  and  humbled  by 
this  expedition  of  Gen.  Sullivan,  and  from  that  time 
forward  remained  peaceful  toward  the  whites. 


PIONEER  HISTORY  OF  ORLEANS  COUNTY. 

CHAPTER  I. 


THE   INDIANS  OF  WESTERN  NEW-YORK. 

Their  Traditionary  History— Ancient  Fortification  in  Shelby— Their 
Friendship  for  the  White  Men  in  the  War  of  1812— Fishing  and 
Hunting. 

"hISTOEY  of  the  Indians,  who  inhabited 
Western    New-York  at  the   coming  of  the 

white  men  to  reside  among  them,  is  compar- 
atively unknown.  Their  own  traditionary  accounts 
go  hack  but  little  more  than  a  century,  but  the  nu- 
merous relics  and  "  ruins"  and  the  marks  of  ancient 
fortifications,  upon  which  no  doubt  human  labor  and 
skill  have  been  emj^loyed,  which  are  found  scattered 
over  all  this  region  of  country,  seem  to  prove  conclu- 
sively that  here  men  have  lived  for  many  centuries 
past. 

All  these  traces  of  former  habitations  of  men  are 
found  within  the  bounds  of  Orleans  County.  When 
they  were  made,  and  by  whom,  seems  to  be  as  inex- 
plicable to  the  Indian  of  the  present  day  as  to  his 
white  brother.  The  commonly  entertained  opinion,  of 
those  who  have  investigated  the  subject  most,  is  that 
this  country  has  been  inhabited  by  a  people  of  higher 
civilization  and  more  skilled  in  the  arts  than  those 
found  here  and  known  as  the  Six  Nations,  who  have 
become  long  since  extinct. 

The  most  considerable  of  these  "  ancient  fortifica- 
tions" to  be  found  in  Orleans  County  is  thus  described 
in  Turner' s  History  : 


14  PIONEER  HISTORY 

"About  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Shelby  Cen- 
ter, in  Orleans  County,  is  an  ancient  work.  A  broad 
ditch  encloses  in  a  form  nearly  circular,  about  three 
acres  of  land.  The  ditch  is  at  this  day  well  defined 
several  feet  deep.  Adjoining  the  spot  on  the  south  is 
a  swamp,  about  a  mile  in  width,  b}'  two  in  length. — 
This  swamp  was  once  doubtless,  if  not  a  lake,  an  iiii- 
passable  morass.  Prom  the  interior  of  the  enclosure 
made  by  the  ditch,  there  is  what  appears  to  have  been 
a  passage  way  on  the  side  next  to  the  swamp.  No 
other  breach  occurs  in  the  entire  circuit  of  the  eni- 
bankment.  There  are  accumulated,  within  and  near 
this  fort,  large  piles  of  small  stones  of  a  size  conveni- 
ent to  be  thrown  by  the  hand  or  with  a  sling.  Arrow 
heads  of  ilint  are  found  in  or  near  the  enclosure,  in 
great  abundance,  stones,  axes,  &:c.  Trees  of  four 
hundred  years  growth  stand  upon  the  embankment, 
and  underneath  them  have  b^en  found  earthen  wares, 
pieces  of  plates  or  dishes  wrought  with  skill,  pi'esent- 
ing  ornaments  in  relief  of  various  patterns.  Some 
skeletons  almost  entire  have  been  exhumed  ;  many  of 
giant  size,  not  less  than  seven  or  eight  feet  in  length. 
The  skulls  are  large  and  well  developed  in  the  anteri- 
or lobe,  broad  between  the  ears,  and  flattened  in  the 
coronal  region. 

Haifa  mile  west  of  the  fort  is  a  sand  hill.  Here  a 
large  number  of  human  skeletons  have  been  exhumed, 
in  a  perfect  state.  Great  numbers  appear  to  have 
been  buried  in  the  same  grave.  Many  of  the  skulls 
appear  to  have  been  broken  in  Avitli  clubs  or  stones." 

The  Indians  found  actually  occupying  this  part  of 
the  country  when  white  men  began  to  settle  here  were 
the  Senecas,  a  tribe  of  the  Six  Nations.  They  had  no 
village  or  permanent  settlement  within  Orleans  Coun- 
ty ;  but  they  counted  this  as  part  of  tlieir  territory, 
and  occupied  it  as  their  hunting  and  fishing  grounds, 
and  were  accustomed  to  follow  these  pursuits  here. — 


OF   ORLEANS   COUKTY.  15 

Their  places  of  residence  were  their  villages  in  Genesee 
and  Niagara  Counties.  These  Indians  were  friendly 
to  the  whites,  and  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Orleans 
County  never  feared  their  hostility.  In  the  war  of 
1812,  with  Great  Britain,  they  took  up  arms  on  the 
side  of  the  United  States,  and  made  themselves  use- 
ful to  us  in  checking  the  invasions  of  the  hostile  In- 
dians from  Canada,  who  acted  with  the  British. 

These  Indians  had  formerly  been  favorably  dispos- 
ed to  the  British  Government,  and  it  w^as  a  source  of 
alarm  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  lest  the}^  should 
be  found  with  their  ancient  allies.  Tlieir  great  chief, 
Red  Jacket,  counseled  them  to  maintain  neutralit}'. 
This  neutral  state  was  construed  unfavorably  by  the 
pioneers,  and  rumors  of  contemplated  Indian  atroci- 
ties were  circulated  from  time  to  time,  until  the  Sene- 
cas  had  resolved  to  take  up  the  hatchet  with  us. 

The  rapid  settlement  of  the  county  b}^  white  men 
had  the  effect  to  diminish  the  number  of  wild  game 
animals,  vrhicli  the  Indians  had  been  accustomed  to 
hunt ;  and  fishing  in  the  Oak  Orchard  and  Johnson' s . 
Creeks,  with  seines  and  nets,  soon  exterminated  the 
salmon  and  drove  away  other  kinds  of  fish  that  had 
formerly  come  up  these  streams  from  Lake  Ontario  in 
abundance,  until  the  Indians  found  their  occupation 
worthless  and  ceased  to  come  here. 

In  an  early  da}^  parties  of  Indians  came  over  from 
Canada  and  wintered  in  Carlton,  for  the  purpose  of 
hunting.  In  the  spring  they  would  return  to  Canada. 
As  game  became  scarce  they  discontinued  their  visits. 

Indians  in  families,  or  singl3%  frequently  traveled 
about  among  the  dwellings  of  the  pioneers  to  beg  or 
sell  their  small  wares,  or  get  whisky.  They  were  gen- 
erally harmless,  and  made  no  trouble.  Their  claim 
to  the  land  was  long  since  settled  by  treaty  transfei-- 
ing  it  to  white  men,  excepting  the  reservations  to 
which  they  retired. 


CHAPTER  II. 


PHELPS  AXD  GOKHAlt's  PUKCHASE. 

When  Made — Territory  Included  in — Consolidated  Securities — Their 
Sale  to  Eobert  Morris — Divisions  of  their  Purchase — The  Triangle. 


,K.«r  HE  original  charter,  granted  Iby  tlie  King  of 
'%^^  England  to  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  in- 
V^P  eluded  all  th^  country  between  the  north  and 
south  "boundaries  of  the  colony,  extending  from  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  on  the  east,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  on 
the  west.  The  .western  boundary  had  not  then  been 
explored,  and  the  extent  of  the  continent  was  un- 
known. 

New  York  was  afterwards  chartered  by  the  same 
authority,  covering  a  portion  of  territory  previously 
granted  to  Massachusetts.  After  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  Massachusetts  urged  her  claim. 
The  difficulty  was  finallj^  compromised  between  Mass- 
achusetts and  New  York,  by  commissioners  mutual- 
ly agreed  upon,  Dec.  16, 1786,  by  giving  to  New  York 
the  sovreignty  of  all  the  disputed  territory  lying  with- 
in her  chartered  limits ;  and  giving  the  property  in 
the  soil  to  Massachusetts,  or  the  right  to  buy  the  soil 
from  the  Indians,  who  were  then  in  possession. 

All  of  the  State  of  New  York  lying  west  of  a  line 
running  from  Sodus  Bay  through  Seneca  Lake,  to 
the  north  line  of  Pennsylvania,  estimated  to  contain 
6,000,000  of  acres,  was  sold  subject  to  the  title  the 
Indians  then  liad  to  it,  by  Massachusetts,  to  Phelps 
and  Gorham,  in  the  year  1786,  for  $1,000,000,  to  be 
paid  for  in  a  kind  of  scrip,  or  stock,  which  had  been 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  17 

issued  by  Massachusetts,  called  "Consolidated  Secu- 
rities," wliicli  at  the  time  of  the  sale  was  worth  about 
50  per  cent. 

In  July,  1788,  Phelps  and  Gorliam  made  a  treaty 
with  the  Six  IN'ations  of  Indians,  by  which  they  pur- 
chased from  them  a  tract  estimat(^d  at  2,250,000  acres  ; 
bounded  east  by  the  Pre-emption  Line  ;  which  was 
the  eastern  boundary  of  their  purchase  from  Massa- 
chusetts, and  west  by  a  line  from  Lake  Ontario  to 
Pennsylvania,  twelve  miles  west  from  Genesee  Piver. 

From  this  sale  to  Phelps  and  Gorham,  and  other 
causes,  the  market  price  of  these  "Consolidated  Se- 
curities" rose  so  hio-h  that  Phelps  and  Gorham  were 
unable  to  buy  them  to  fulfill  their  contract  with  the 
State  ;  and  so  were  compelled  to  surrender.to  the  State 
of  Massachusetts,  all  the  lands  lying  west  of  the  west 
boundary  of  the  tract  they  had  purchased  of  the  In- 
dians, as  above  stated.  To  these  lands  so  surrender- 
ed, the  Indian  title  had  not  then  been  extinguished. — 
This  tract  was  sold  in  the  year  1791,  by  tlie  State  of 
Massachusetts  to  Robert  Morris.  About  the  year 
1793,  Robert  Morris  sold  this  tract  to  an  association 
of  capitalists  residing  in  Holland,  excepting  and  re- 
serving a  parcel  of  land  twelve  miles  wide,  to  be  ta- 
ken off  from  the  east  side.  This  strip  was  afterwards 
called  "the  Morris  Reserve."  a  part  of  it  was  sold 
by  Morris  to  Bayard,  Leroy  and  McEvers,  known  as 
The  Triangle,  containing  87,000  acres,  and  another 
portion  lying  west  of  The  Triangle,  and  containing 
100,000  acres  was  sold  by  Morris  to  Cragieand  others 
and  by  them  to  Sir  William  Pultney  and  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  ever  since  known  as  "The  100,000  Acre 
Tract, "  or   "  Connecticut  Tract. ' ' 

The  tract  so  purchased  by  the  Holland  Company 
contains  about  three  million  six  liundred  thousand 


18  PIONEER  HISTORY 

acres,  and  is  distinguislied  as   ''The  Holland  Pur- 
cliase." 

THE  TRIANGLE  TRACT. 

One  of  the  large  divisions  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham 
Purchase,  lying  west  of  the  Genesee  River,  is  known 
as  "The  Triangle."  By  treat j between  Phelps  and 
Gorham,  and  the  Indians,  after  they  had  granted  to 
Ebenezer  Allen,  a  piece  of  land  of  100  acres,  on  which 
to  erect  a  saw  mill,  at  what  is  now  Rochester,  an- 
other tract  was  granted  to  Phelps  and  Gorham,  for 
a  "Mill  Yard."  This  was  called  "The  Mill  Yard 
Tract,"  and  was  twelve  miles  wide  east  and  west,  by 
twenty -four  miles  north  and  south,  from  Lake  Ontario. 

The  agreement  ■was,  this  "  Mill  Yard"  should  be 
bounded  east  by  the  Genesee  River  ;  south  by  a  line 
running  west  fi'om  about  where  Avon  now  stands  ; 
and  west  twelve  miles  ;  thence  north  to  Lake  Ontario. 
It  was  then  supposed  that  the  course  of  the  Genesee 
River  was  about  due  north,  and  the  west  line  was  at 
first  run  by  Hugh  Maxwell,  due  north  from  said  south 
west  corner,  accordingly. 

It  was  afterwards  ascertained,  that  the  mouth,  of 
the  river  was  more  than  twelve  miles  east  from  the 
termination  of  this  line,  on  the  lake  shore. 

The  matter  was  afterwards  arranged  by  a  new  line 
being  run  by  Mr.  Augustus  Porter,  nearly  parallel 
with  Genesee  River,  and  twelve  miles  west  of  it,  for 
the  west  bounds  of  the  Mill  Yard  Tract.  This  left  a 
triangular  shaped  j)iece  of  land  lying  between  the 
lines  so  run  by  Maxwell  and  Porter,  containing  about 
87,000  acres,  forming  the  towns  of  Clarkson,  Hamlin, 
Sweden,  Bergen  and  Lero}'.  This  tract  has  ever 
since  been  described  and  known  as   "  The  Triangle." 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  100,000  ACRE  TRACT. 

Boundaries— Dr.  Levi  Ward — Levi  A.  Ward — Joseph  Fellows — Trah- 
sit  Line. 

EFORE  the  west  line  of  the  Mill  Yard  Tract 
had  been  rectified  "by  tlie  new  line  run  "by  Por- 
ter, Mr.  Robert  Morris  sold  a  tract  Ipng  next 
west  of  "the  Mill  Yard,"  to  contain  100,000  acres,  to 
Cragie'and  others.  This  parcel  was  afterwards  sold 
by  the  pro2:)rietors  to  Sir  William  Pnltney,  and  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  to  each,  an  undivided  half.  Af- 
terwards, and  about  the  ja^ar  1811,  this  tract  was  di- 
vided between  the  estate  of  Sir  AYilliani  Pnltney,  and 
the  State  of  Connecticut. 

The  100,000  Acre  Tract  includes  the  towns  of  Ken- 
dall, Murray  and  Clarendon,  in  Orleans  County;  and 
Byron,  and  a  portion  of  Bergen,  Stafford  and  Leroy, 
in  Genesee  County  ;  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Lake  Ontario,  and  on  the  south  by  a  part  of  the  Mor- 
ris Reserve,  known  as  the  "Cragie  Tract;"  on  the 
east  by  "The  Triangle;"  and  on  the  west  b}^  "The 
Holland  Purchase."  "  In  Jul}',  1810,  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut appointed  Dr.  Levi  Ward  agent  to  sell  farm 
lots  for  them,  and  about  181C,  Dr.  Waixl  and  Levi  II. 
Clark  purchased  of  Connecticut  all  the  unsold  lands  ; 
but  by  agreement  sales  were  continued  in  the  name  of 
the  State.  Dr.  Ward  and  his  son  Levi  A.  \Yard, 
have  ever  since  continued  to   act   as   ao:ents   for  the 


20  PIONEER   IIISTOllY 

State  of  Connecticut,  wliilo  Mr.  Joseph  Fellows  lias^ 
been  a  like  agent  for  the  Pultney  estate. 

THE  TRANSIT   EINE. 

This  line  which  forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
Holland  Purchase,  and  the  western  boundary  of 
Morris  Reserve,  begins  on  tlie  north  bounds  of  Penn- 
sylvania, 12  miles  west  of  the  west  bounds  of  Phelps 
and  Gorliam's  Purchase  ;  thence  runs  due  north,  to> 
near  the  center  of  the  town  of  Stafford,  in  Genesee 
County  ;  thencejwest  a  fraction  over  two  miles  ;  thence 
due  north,  to  Lake  Ontario.  It  forms  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  towns  of  Carlton,  Gaines,  and  Barre. 
It  is  called  the  Transit  Lino,  because  it  was  run  out 
first  by  the  aid  of  a  Transit  insti-ument.  The  dffset 
of  two  miles  is  said  to  have  been  made  to  pnn^ent 
overlapping  the  Connecticut  Tract  by  the  lands  of 
the  Holland  Purchase.  The  trees  were  cut  through 
on  the  Transit  Line,  to  tli(^  width  of  about  four  rods, 
at  an  early  day,  by  the  Land  Company  ;  tlius  afford- 
ing a  convenient  land  mark  to  tlit^  early  settlers  in 
locating  their  lands,  and  serving  as  a  guide  in  finding 
their  way  through  the  woods.  The  Transit  Line  was. 
run  by  Joseph  EUicott,  in  1 798. 


CHAPTER  lY 


THE   IIOLLAKD   PTJIICHASE. 

■Names  ot  Company — Location  of  Tract — Surveys — Ceded  by  Indians — 
Counties  iu'CSTew-York  One  Hundred  Tears  Ago — Genesee  Country — 
Genesee  County  and  its  Subdivisions — Joseph  Ellicott  and  brother 
Benj.,  Surveyors — Agent  of  the  Company — Laud  Office — Where  Lo- 
cated— Practice  in  Locating  Land^ Articles — Clemency  of  the  Land 
Company — Deeding  Lots  for  School  Houses — Land  Given  to  Relig- 
ious Societies — Anecdote  of  Mr.  Busti — Rev.  Andrew  Ravrson — 
Route  ot  Travel  to  Orleans  County — Oak  Orchard  Creek  and  John- 
son's Creek — Why  so  Named — Kinds  of  Forest  Trees — Wild  Ani- 
mals— Salmon  and  other  Fish — Rattlesnakes — Raccoons  and  Hedge- 
hogs— Beaver  Dams — Fruits — Effect  of  Clearing  Land  on  Chmate — 
The  Touawanda  Swamp. 


HIS  tract  included  all  the  land  lying  iu  tlie 
State  of  ISTew  York,  and  west  of  tlie  Transit 
^^  P  Line,  excepting  tlie  Indian  Reservations,  and 
contains  about  3,600,000  acres.  It  was  purchased  of 
Robert  Morris  by  an  association  of  Hollanders,  in 
1792-93.  The  names  of  the  original  members  of  this 
association  were  Wilh(^lm  AYilliiik,  Jan  Willink, 
Nicholas  Yan  Stophprst,  Jacob  Yan  Stophorst,  Nich- 
olas Hubbard,  Pieter  Yan  Eeghen,  Cliristian  Yan 
Eeghen,  Isaac  Ten  Gate,  Hendiick  Yollenhoven, 
Christina  Coster,  widow,  Jan  Stadnetsld,  and  Rutger 
Jan  Schimmelpennick. 

The  surveys  of  the  Holland  Purchase  were  begun 
on  the  east,  at  the  Transit  Line,  and  continued  west 
dividing  the  whole  territory  into  ranges  and  town- 
ships ;  the  range  lines  running  from  north  to  south, 
the  townships  from  east  to  west.  The  ranges  number 
from  the  east,   and  the  townships  from  the  south. — 


22  PIONEER  HISTORY 

Townships  are  all  sul^divided.  into  lots,  and  the  towns 
of  Carlton  and  part  of  Yates,  into  sections  and  lots. — • 
The  county  of  Orleans  contains  the  north  parts  of 
ranges  1,  2,  3  and  4,  and  the  east  parts  of  townships 
14,  15  and  16.  It  is  about  20  miles  square,  not  inclu- 
ding so  much  as  is  covered  by  Lake  Ontario,  and  con- 
tains about  405  square  miles. 

About  the  year  1797,  the  Indians  ceded  most  of 
their  lauds  on  the  Holland  Purchase,  to  the  white 
men  ;  reserving  to  themselves  tracts  of  the  best  land 
for  their  occupation.  Most  of  these  reservations  have 
been  since  conveyed  by  the  Indians  to  white  men. — 
J^o  reservation  was  irade  of  any  land  now  in  Orleans 
county. 

One  hundred  years  ago,  the  then  province  of  New 
York,  contained  ten  cou.nties,  viz  :  New  York,  "West- 
chester, Dutchess,  Orange,  Ulster,  Albany,  Richmond, 
Kings,  Queens  and  Suffolk. 

The  county  of  Albany  embraced  all  the  territory 
now  included  in  the  State  of  New  York,  lying  north 
of  Ulster,  and  west  of  Hudson  River.  So  much  of 
said  territoiy,  as  lies  west  of  Schoharie,  was  taken  off 
from  Albany,  and  named  Try  on,  in  the  year  1772. — 
Tiyon  was  changed  to  Montgomery,  in  1784. 

All  of  said  territoiy  lying  west  of  "  the  Preemption 
Line,'"  mcluding  all  land  sold  by  Massachusetts  to 
Phelps  and  Gorham,  in  their  first  purchase,  was  ta- 
ken from  Montgomery  in  the  year  1789,  and  named 
Ontario  county.  Ontario  county,  at  that  time,  was 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  only  as  it  had  been  occupied 
by  the  Indians,  west  of  Genesee  River.  Some  settle- 
ments by  white  men  had  been  made  in  the  eastern 
part.  It  was  then  generally  known  as  ''  the  Genesee 
country,"  named  from  the  Genesee  River,  the  most 
considerable  stream  of  water  in  the  country. 

Canandaigua  was  then  the  chief  town  in  the  county 


OF  OELEAXS   COUNTY.  23 

and  it  has  ever  remained  the  county  seat  ot  Ontario 
county. 

From  Ontario  has  since  "been  formed  the  counties  of 
Steuben,  Allegany,  Cattaraugus,  Monroe,  Livingston, 
Wayne,  Yates,  Genesee,  Niagara,  Erie,  Chautauqua 
and  Orleans. 

Genesee  county  was  taken  from  Ontario  in  1802. — 
The  Genesee  River  was  then  its  eastern  boundary, 
and  it  included  so  much  of  the  State  of  New  York,  as 
lies  west  of  that  river. 

The  original  county  of  Genesee  has  been  subdivided 
into  Allegany,  Cattaraugus,  Chairtauqua,  Livingston, 
Wyoming,  Erie,  Niagara  and  Orleans,  leaving  a  small 
portion  around  Batavia,  which  w^as  the  original  coun- 
ty seat,  still  known  as  Genesee  county. 

Orleans  county  was  set  off  from  Genesee,  Nov.  11, 
1824.  The  town  of  Shelby  was  annexed  to  Orleans 
from  Genesee  county,  April  5,  1825. 

The  county  of  Genesee  included,  in  its  original  lim- 
its, all  of  the  State  of  New  York,  which  Robert  Mor- 
ris purchased. 

The  general  land  office  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany was  first  located  at  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Joseph  EUicott  was  engaged  as  principal  sur- 
veyor for  the  Holland  Land  Company,  in  July,  1797. 
Assisted  by  his  brother,  Benjamin,  and  others,  he 
commenced  surveying  the  lands  embraced  in  the  Hol- 
land Purchase,  in  1798,  by  running  and  establishing 
the  Transit  Line,  as  the  eastern  boundary.  These 
surveys  were  continued  ten  or  twelve  years,  until  the 
whole  tract  was  divided  into  townships,  ranges,  sec- 
tions and  lots. 

In  1800,  Joseph  EUicott  was  appointed  local  agent 
of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and  for  more  than 
twenty  years  thereafter,  he  had  almost  exclusive  con- 
trol of  all  the  local  business  of  the  Comi)any, 

The  Land  Office  was  first  established  on  the  Pur- 


24  PIONEEK  HISTOEY 

cliase  at  Piue  Grove,  Clarence  Hollow,  in  Erie  coun- 
ty ;  but  upon  the  org-anization  of  Genesee  county,  in 
1802,  the  office  was  transferred  to  Batavia,  where  it 
remained  until  the  affairs  of  the  Company  were  final- 
ly closed  up  in  the  year  1835. 

The  principal  Land  Office  was  kc^pt  at  Batavia,  but 
several  other  offices  were  established  in  different  parts 
of  the  Purchase,  for  the  convenience  of  parties  having 
business  with  the  Company. 

It  was  usual  for  persons,  who  desired  to  locate  on 
land  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  to  select  the  par- 
cel they  desired  to  take,  go  to  the  Land  Office  at  Ba- 
tavia, and  make  a  contract  with  the  Company's  agent 
there,  for  the  purchase.  Yery  seldom  indeed  was 
payment  in  full  made,  and  a  deed  taken,  in  the  first 
place.  The  common  jiractice  was  for  the  purchaser 
to  make  a  small  payment  down,  and  receive  from  the 
Company  a  contract  in  writing,  known  as  an  "Arti- 
cle," by  which  the  Compau}^  agreed  to  sell  the  parcel 
of  land  described,  the  purchaser  to  pay  the  price  in 
instalments,  within  from  five  to  ten  j^ears,  with  inter- 
est ;  Mdien  he  was  to  receive  a  deed.  On  receiving  his 
"Article,"  the  settler  went  into  full  possession  of  his 
land,  cleared  it  up,  and  made  improvements,  making- 
such  payments  to  apply  on  the  purchase  monej'  as  he 
was  able. 

These  land  "Articles '"'  were  transferred  by  assign- 
ment, and  were  conveyed  from  hand  to  hand,  often 
many  times  before  they  were  returned  to  the  Com- 
pany. A  settler  who  wished  to  sell  out  his  interest  in 
land  did  so  by  assigning  his  "Article."  Or,  if  he  de- 
sired to  give  security  tor  a  debt,  or  obtain  a  credit  in 
his  business,  he  would  pledge  his  "  Article. ' '  Trades- 
men and  speculators  of  every  class  were  accustomed 
to  deal  largely  in  these  "Articles,"  and  men  who  had 
means  to  lend,  often  liekt  numbers  of  these  contracts, 
transferred  to  tlwm  by  absolute  sale,  or  in  security 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  25 

for  some  obligations,  to  be  afterwards  redeemed  by 
the  owner.  The  Holland  Land  Company  sold  their 
wild  lands  in  Orleans  county  for  from  §2  to  80  per 
acre,  according  to  the  quality  and  location  of  the 
land.  In  the  later  years  of  the  existence  of  the  Land 
Company,  frequently  the  Company  w^ould  give  a 
deed  to  the  settler,  and  take  his  bond  and  a  mortgage 
on  the  land  deeded,  for  the  balance  of  "purchase 
money." 

The  Comj)any  generally  dealt  very  leniently  with 
its  debtors,  frequently  renewing  their  "Articles" 
when  they  had  run  out  without  payment ;  and  some- 
times abating  interest  accrued  and  unpaid,  or  throw- 
ing off  a  part  of  the  sum  originally  agreed  to  be  paid, 
when  the  bargain  had  proved  a  hard  one  for  any  rea- 
son to  the  debtor. 

Another  measure  of  relief  to  the  settlers,  from  their 
obligations  to  pay  for  their  land,  was  the  Company 
agreeing  to  receive  cattle,  and  apply  their  value  on 
"Articles"  for  land,  on  w^hich  payment  was  in  ar- 
rears. For  some  years  before  the  Company  ceased  to 
exist,  they  would  send  their  agents  to  different  points 
on  the  Purchase,  to  receive  these  cattle,  and  indorse 
their  value  on  the  "Articles"  of  the  settlers.  The 
cattle  were  driven  to  a  distant  market.  Although 
this  arrangement  was  beneficial  to  the  people,  it  was 
attended  wdth  considerable  loss  to  the  Company. 

It  was  provided  in  an  early  School  Act  of  the  State 
that  sites  for  school  houses  should  be  secured  to  the 
school  districts  by  deeds  in  fee,  or  by  leases  from  the 
party  owning  the  fee  of  the  land. 

It  often  occurred,  before  the  year  1828,  that  there 
was  no  deeded  land  in  the  district,  or  none  where  a 
school  house  was  desired  to  be  located.  In  such  ca- 
ses, the  Company  provided  by  a  general  order,  that 
they  would  grant  half  an  acre  to  such  district  gratis, 
if  the  Company  owned  the  land  where  the   school 


26  PIONEER  HISTORY 

house  should  stand,  then  not  under  "Article,"  provi- 
ded, if  such  site  should  fall  on  land  held  by  some  per- 
son under  contract,  the  district  was  then  required  to 
procure  a  relinquishment  of  the  right  of  such  person 
in  the  half  acre,  to  be  indorsed  on  liis  "  Article." 

Another  instance  of  the  generosity  of  the  Holland 
Company,  as  shown  in  the  conduct  of  their  general 
agents,  is  recorded  of  Mr.  Busti,  who  for  many  years 
was  their  head  agent,  residing  in  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
Turner,  in  his  History  of  the  Holland  Purchase,  in  a 
note  says — "  In  the  fall  of  1820,  Mr.  Busti  was  visit- 
ing the  Land  Office,  in  Batavia  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  R.,  of 
the  Presbyterian  sect,  called  on  Mr.  Busti,  and  insist- 
ed on  a  donation  of  land  for  each  society  of  his  per- 
suasion, then  formed  on  the  Holland  Purchase.  Mr. 
Busti  treated  the  Rev.  gentleman  with  due  courtesy, 
but  showed  no  disposition  to  grant  his  request.  Mr. 
R.,  encouraged  by  Mr.  Busti' s  politeness,  persevered 
in  his  solicitations  day  after  day,  until  Mr.  Busti' s 
patience  was  almost  exhausted,  and  what  finally 
brought  that  subject  to  a  crisis  was  Mr.  R's.  follow- 
ing Mr.  Busti  out  of  the  office,  when  he  was  going  to 
take  his  tea  at  Mr.  Ellicott's,  and  making  a  fresh  at- 
tack on  him  in'  the  piazza.  Mr.  Busti  was  evidently 
vexed,  and  in  reply  said  : — "Yes,  Mr.  R.,  I  will  give 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  to  a  religious  society  in 
every  town  on  the  Purchase,  and  this  is  Jinisy — 
"But,"  said  Mr.  R.,  "You  will  give  it  all  to  the 
Presbyterians,  will  you  not ;  if  j'ou  do  not  expressly 
so  decide,  the  sectarians  will  be  claiming  it,  and  loe 
shall  receive  very  little  benefit  from  it. "  '  'Sectarians, 
no!" — was  Mr.  Busti' s  hasty  reply,  " I  abhor  secta- 
rians, they  ought  not  to  have  any  of  it  ;  and  to 
save  contention,  I  will  give  it  to  the  first  religious  sp- 
oiety  in  every  town."  On  which  Mr.  Busti  hastened 
to  his  tea,  and  Mr.  R.  to  his  home,  (about  sixteen 
miles  distant)  to  start  runners  during  the  night,  or 


OF  OELEANS   COUNTY.  27 

next  morning,  to  rally  the  Presbyterians  in  the  sever- 
al towns  in  his  vicinity  to  aj)ply  first,  and  thereby 
save  the  land  to  themselves. 

The  Land  Office  was  soon  flooded  with  petitions  for 
land  from  Societies  organized  according  to  law,  and 
empowered  to  hold  real  estate,  and  those  who  were 
not ;  one  of  which  was  presented  to  Mr.  Busti  before 
he  left,  directed  to  "General  Poll  Bnsti,"  on  which 
he  insisted  it  conld  not  be  from  a  religions  society, 
for  all  religions  societies  read  their  bibles,  and  know 
that  P-o-1-1  does  not  spell  Pcml.  Amidst  this  chaos 
of  applications,  it  was  thonght  to  be  unadvisable  to 
be  precipitant  in  granting  these  donations,  the  whole 
responsibility  now  resting  on  Mr.  Ellicott,  to  comply 
with  this  vague  promise  of  Mr.  Busti ;  therefore  con- 
veyances of  the  "Gospel  Land,"  were  not  executed 
for  some  space  of  time,  notwithstanding  the  clamor  of 
petitioners  for  "deeds  of  our  land,"  during  which 
time,  the  matter  was  taken  into  consideration  and 
systematised,  so  far  as  such  an  operation  could  be.— ■ 
Pains  were  taken  to  ascertain  the  merits  of  each  appli- 
cation, and  finally  a  tract,  or  tracts  of  land,  not  ex- 
ceeding one  hundi'ed  acres  in  all,  was  granted,  free  of 
expense,  to  one  or  more  religious  societies,  regularly 
organized  according  to  law,  in  each  town  on  the  Pur- 
chase, where  the  Company  had  land  undisposed  of ; 
which  embraced  every  town  tlien  organized  on  the 
Purchase,  except  Bethany,  Genesee  county,  and 
Shelden,  AVyoming  countj^  ;  the  donees  always  being 
allowed  to  select  out  of  the  unsold  farming  lands  in 
each  town.  In  some  towns,  it  was  all  given  to  one 
society  ;  in  others  to  two  or  three  societies,  separate- 
ly ;  and  in  a  few  towns  to  four  different  societies,  of 
different  sects,  twenty-five  acres  to  each. 

In  performing  this  thankless  duty,  for  the  land  was 
claimed  as  an  absolute  right  by  most  of  the  appli- 
cants, the  whole  j)roceedings  were  so  managed,  un- 


28  PIONEER  HISTORY 

der  Mr  Ellicott's  judicious  directions,  tliat  amidst  all 
the  clamor  and  contention,  which  from  its  nature  such 
proceedings  must  elicit,  no  complaint  of  partiality  to 
any  particular  sect,  nor  of  undue  weight  of  influence 
in  any  individual,  was  ever  charged  against  the  agent 
of  the  Company,  or  his  associates  acting  under  him." 

It  is  understood  the  Rev.  Mr.  R.  referred  to  was 
Rev.  Andrew  Rawson,  of  Barre.  Mr.  Busti  was  hy 
profession  a  Roman  Catholic. 

The  county  of  Genesee  was  formed  from  Ontario 
County  in  1802,  and  the  town  of  Batavia  w^as  organi- 
zed at  the  same  time,  and  then  included  the  entire 
county  of  Genesee.  The  town  of  Ridgeway  was  form- 
ed from  Batavia  June  8,  1812,  and  then  emT3raced  all 
the  territory  now  included  in  the  towns  of  Shelby, 
Ridgeway,  Yates,  Carlton,  Gaines  and  Barre. 

Some  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  territory  north  of 
Tonawanda  Swamp*  came  from  Canada,  in  boats 
across  Lake  Ontario  ;  others  from  New  England  and 
the  east,  came  by  boats  along  the  south  shore  of  the 
lake.  Those  who  came  in  on  foot,  or  with  teams,  usu- 
ally crossed  the  Genesee  River  at  Rochester,  and  then 
took  the  Ridge  Road  west. 

The  Ridge  in  this  locality  had  been  used  as  a  high- 
way, ever  since  the  county  had  been  traversed  by 
white  men  ;  and  it  was  a  favorite  trail  of  the  Indians. 
Bridges  had  not  l)een  made  over  the  streams,  by 
which  it  was  intersected,  and  it  was  difficult  crossing 
these  with  teams.  Sir  William  Johnson,  going  with 
a  large  body  of  soldiers  to  Fort  Niagara,  went  along 
the  Lake  shore  from  Genesee  River,  and  encamping 
for  th(^  night  on  the  Creek  in  Carlton,  west  of  Oak 
Orchard,  he  gave  it  the  name  of  Johnson's  Creek, 
which  it  has  since  retained. 

The  Oak  Orchard  Creek  was  so  named  from  the 
beautiful  oak  trees,  which  grew  along  its  banks,  as 
seen  b}'  the  first  discoverers. 


OF  okleajS^s  county.  29 

In  its  natural  state  Orleans  connty  was  thickly 
covered  with  trees.  On  the  dry,  hard  land,  the  pre- 
vailing varieties  of  timber  were  beech,  maple,  white 
red  and  black  oak,  white  wood  or  tulip  tree,  bass- 
wood,  elm,  hickory  and  hemlock.  Swamps  and  low 
wet  lands  were  covered  with  black  ash,  tamarack, 
white  and  yellow  cedar,  and  soft  maple  ;  large  syca- 
more, or  cotton  ball  trees,  were  common  on  low  lands 
and  some  pine  grew  along  tlie  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
and  in  the  swamps  in  Barre ;  and  a  few  chestnut 
trees  grew  along  tlie  Ridge  in  Ridgewa}',  and  in  other 
places  north  of  the  Ridge.  It  has  been  estimated  by 
the  first  settlers,  that  from  seventy-five  to  one  liun- 
dred  cords  of  wood  of  128  feet  each,  stood  on  each 
acre  of  land  on  an  average  over  the  county. 

The  principal  wild  animals  found  here  were  the 
bear,  deer,  wolf,  raccoon,  hedgehog,  wood-chuck, 
skunk,  fox,  black,  red,  striped  and  flying  squirrel, 
mink  and  muskrat.  Bear  and  deer  were  plenty,  and 
hunting  them  furnished  food  and  sport  for  the  pion- 
eers. For  some  years  the  wolves  were  so  destructive 
to  the  sheep  and  young  cattle,  it  was  difficult  to  keep 
them.  The  bears  would  kill  the  pigs,  if  they  strayed 
into  the  woods.  As  the  forests  were  cut  down,  and 
settlers  came  in,  these  large  animals  were  hunted  out, 
till  not  a  bear,  deer  or  wolf  has  been  seen  wild  in  Or- 
leans county  for  several  years. 

Fish  were  plenty  in  the  streams,  coming  up  from 
Lake  Ontario  in  great  numbers. 

At  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  white  men 
and  Indians  caught  an  abundance  of  salmon  here. — ■ 
These  fish,  in  high  water  would  run  up  the  Oak  Orch- 
ard and  Johnson's  Creek,  and  out  into  their  tributa- 
ries, where  they  were  often  takc^n.  Salmon  were  once 
caught  in  a  small  stream  in  the  west  part  of  the  town 
of  Gaines.  It  is  related  that  at  an  early  day,  after  a 
high  freshet,  Mr.  John  Hood  caught  a  number  of  sal- 


30  PIONEER  HISTORY 

men  on  the  bank  of  this  stream,  south  of  West  Gaines, 
where  a  tree  had  overturned,  leaving  a  hole  through 
which  the  water  had  flowed  ;  and  where  they  were 
left  when  the  water  subsided. 

A  kind  of  sucker  fish,  called  red  sides,  used  to  run 
up  from  the  lake  in  plenty.  They  were  taken  in 
April  and  May,  in  seines,  by  wagon  loads.  The  sal- 
mon disappeared  years  ago,  and  very  few  red  sides 
run  now. 

Rattlesnakes  were  numerous  along  the  banks  of 
Oak  Orchard  Creek  and  IM^iagara  and  Genesee  Rivers, 
when  the  country  was  new.  They  had  several  dens, 
to  which  they  retired  in  winter,  and  near  which  they 
were  frequently  seen  in  sprmg  time.  Lemuel  Blan- 
don  relates  that  in  1820,  he  went  with  a  party  to  fish 
near  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard.  They  intended  to 
stay  all  night,  and  built  a  shelter  of  boughs  on  the 
lake  shore,  on  the  east  side,  near  where  the  hotel  now 
stands  ;  and  set  fire  to  an  old  log  that  lay  there.  Af- 
ter the  fire  began  to  burn,  two  or  three  rattlesnakes 
came  out  from  the  log,  and  induced  the  fishermen  to 
fix  their  camp  in  another  place. 

Enos  Stone,  an  early  settler  in  Rochester,  said  "  The 
principal  colony  of  the  rattlesnakes  was  in  the  bank 
of  the  river,  below  the  lower  falls,  at  a  place  we  used 
to  call  Rattlesnake  Point  ;  and  there  was  also  a 
large  colony  at  Allan' s  Creek,  near  the  end  of  the 
Brighton  Plank  Road,  I  think  the}'  grew  blind  about 
the  time  of  returning  to  their  dens,  in  August  and 
September.  I  have  killed  them  on  their  return,  with 
films  on  their  eyes.  Their  oil  was  held  in  great  esti- 
mation by  the  early  settlers.  Zebulon  Norton,  of 
Norton"  s  Mills,  was  a  kind  of  backwoods  doctor,  and 
he  often  came  to  this  region  for  tlie  oil  and  the  gall  of 
rattlesnakes.  The  oil  was  used  for  stiff*  joints  and 
bruises  ;  and  the  gall  for  fevers,  in  the  form  of  a  pill 


OF   OKLEAKS   COUNTY.  31 

made  up  with  chalk.'-*  A  rattlesnakes  den  where 
they  used  to  winter,  and  out  of  which  they  would 
crawl  in  earl}^  spring  to  sun  themselves,  was  situated 
on  the  west  "bank  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  on  the  Ship- 
man  farm,  in  Carlton.  No  snakes  hare  "been  seen 
there  for  many  years. 

Raccoons  were  plenty.  Their  fat  was  used  to  fry 
cakes,  and  their  flesh  was  much  esteemed  for  food  by 
the  inhabitants. 

Hedge  hogs  were  also  common.  They  frequently 
came  around  the  log  cabins  in  the  night  in  search  of 
food.  Dogs,  who  were  unacquainted  with  the  animal 
sometimes  charged  upon  him  so  rashly  as  to  get  their 
heads  flUed  with  the  quills,  which  it  was  very  difiicult 
to  extract,  on  account  of  their  barbed  points. 

There  were  no  natural  openings  in  the  woods,  or 
prairie  grounds  in  this  county,  before  the  settlement 
of  the  country,  adapted  to  the  habits  of  the  quail ; 
and  they  are  supposed  to  have  come  in  with  the  emi- 
grants. They  soon  became  plenty,  the  large  M^heat 
fields  affording  them  sustenance. 

Quails,  raccoons  and  hedge  hogs  are  nearly  exter- 
minated in  Orleans  County.  A  rattlesnake  is  very 
seldom  seen. 

The  beavers  were  all  destroyed  by  the  first  hunters 
who  came  here. 

Those  who  asume  to  know  say  skunks  and  foxes 
are  more  numerous  now  than  ever  before,  which  if 
true,  may  be  owing  to  the  abundance  of  field  mice 
which  they  feed  on. 

Before  the  settlement  of  this  county,  streams  of  wa- 
ter on  an  average  were  twice  as  large  as  they  are  now; 
and  they  were  more  durable,  flowing  the  year  round, 
where  now  they  are  low,  or  dry,  a  part  of  the  year. 

iJarge  tracts  of  low  land,  now  cultivated  to  grass 
and  grain,   originally  was  marsh,  too  wet  even  to 

*  Phelps  &  Gorham's  Purchase,  p.  425. 


32  PIONEER  IIISTOEY 

grow  trees  ;  sometimes  occasioned  by  the  clams  of  the 
beaver,  which  "by  flooding  the  land  destroyed  the 
timber  once  growing  there.  As  tlie  beavers  were 
hunted  and  destroyed,  their  dams  were  opened,  or 
wore  away,  and  their  ponds  in  time  have  become  cul- 
tivated fields.  Quite  a  number  of  tliese  beaver  dams 
existed  in  Orleans  county.  The  largest  in  Barre  per- 
haps was  at  the  head  of  Otter  Creek,  on  lot  15,  from 
which  a  stream  flowed  north,  and  near  which  some 
years  ago,  E.  P.  Sill  had  a  saw  mill,  that  did  a  large 
business.  This  beaver  pond  covered  a  hundred  acres 
or  more,  which  after  the  beaver  were  gone,  but  be- 
fore the  pond  had  been  eftectually  drained,  became  a 
cranberry  marsh  ;  and  old  people  still  recollect  going 
there  to  get  cranberries.  Near  the  outlet  of  this  pond 
or  marsh,  was  a  favorite  camping  place  of  the  In- 
dians, who  made  this  a  kind  of  head-quarters  in  their 
visits  here  to  hunt  and  fish.  As  the  water  subsided 
in  these  marshes,  diflerent  kinds  of  forest  trees  gradu- 
ally came  in.  Another  beaver  dam  was  erected  on 
the  head  waters  of  Sandy  Creek,  on  the  farm  of  AVil- 
liam  Cole.  And  another  on  the  farm  of  Amos  Root, 
at  the  head  of  a  small  stream  which  flows  into  Tona- 
wanda  Swamp.  Remains  of  beaver  dams  arc  seen  in 
Ridgeway  and  other  towns. 

When  white  men  began  the  settlement  of  this  coun- 
ty, the  winters  were  much  milder  than  now.  Old  set- 
tlers tell  us  the  ground  seldom  froze  in  the  woods  so 
hard  a  stake  could  not  easily  be  driven  into  it  at  any 
time.  Snow  did  not  fall  to  as  great  a  depth  as  is 
sometimes  seen  now.  The  thick  tops  of  the  tall  trees 
broke  the  force  of  the  winds,  and  the  softening  influ- 
ence of  the  great  lakes — Erie  and  Ontario — served  to 
prevent  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  which  liave 
been  more  prevalent  -since  the  timber  lias  been  cut 
down,  and  the  wet  lands  dried  up. 


OF  ORLEANS    COUNTV.  33 

Soon  iiftt^r  clearings  began  to  be  made  in  the  forest, 
peach  trees  ^Yere  planted,  and  grew  luxuriantly,,  and 
ripened  the  choicest  fruit,  in  great  abundance.  The 
j)each  crop  was  never  a  failure,  and  apricots  and  nec- 
tarines were  grown  successfully. 

The  cultivation  of  aj)ples  received  early  attention, 
and  some  orchards,  now  in  full  health  and  bearing, 
are  almost  as  old  as  the  first  settlement. 

In  the  woods,  the  first  pioneers  found  occasionallj'' 
a  Avild  plum  tree,  bearing  a  tough,  acrid  plum,  of  a 
red  and  3^ellow  color  ;  and  a  small  purple  fox  grape 
of  no  value. 

For  many  }^ears  l^efore  and  after  the  opening  of  the 
Erie  Canal,  wlieat  was  the  great  object  of  cultivation 
among  the  fiirmers.  The  quantity  of  wheat  raised 
and  exported  from  Orleans  County  yearly,  between 
1830  and  1840,  was  immense.  Barley  did  not  come 
into  cultivation  till  much  later  tlian  wheat,  and  no  rye 
was  sown  for  many  years. 

It  was  not  until  after  the  ravages  of  the  weevil,  or 
wheat  midge,  had  begun  to  interfere  seriously  with 
wheat  growing,  that  the  culture  of  beans  attracted 
any  considerable  attention. 

THE   TOXAWAXJ)A    SWA^fP. 

This  swamp  lies  in  the  counties  of  (xenesee  and  Or- 
leans, covering  joarts  of  Byron,  Elba,  Oakfield,  and 
Alabama,,  in  Genesee  County  ;  and  parts  of  Slielby, 
Barre,  and  Clarendon,  in  Orleans  County.  Originally 
it  contained  about  twenty-five  thousand  acres,  most 
of  which  was  too  wet  to  plow,  and  Avas  covered  with 
swamp  timber,  or  was  open  marsh,  covered  with  flags, 
or  swamp  grass.  Oak  Orchard  Creek  drains  this 
swamp. 

About  1820,  the  State  constructed  a  feeder  from  the 
Tonawanda  Creek  in  Genesee  County,  to  convey  the 


34  ^  PIONEEIi    illSTOKY 

water  of  Toiiawanda  Creek  into  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
to  supply  the  Erie  Canal  with  water. 

The  outlet  for  water  from  the  swamp  was  through  a 
ledge  of  rock,  too  small  naturally  to  drain  it  suffi- 
eientl}-,  and  when  the  Tonawanda  Creek  was  thus 
brought  into  it,  the  level  of  Avater  in  the  swamp  was 
thereby  raised,  and  nothing  was  then  done  by  the 
State  to  facilitate  the  discharge,  thus  increasing  the 
stagnant  water. 

In  1828,  the  Holland  Company  sold  a  considerable 
portion  of  these  wet  lands  to  an  association,  who  ex- 
pended about  twelve  thousand  dollars,  in  enlarging 
the  capacity  of  the  outlet,  to  drain  the  swamp  through 
Oak  Orchard  Creek. 

The  Canal  Commissioners  then  appropriat(^d  the 
whole  of  the  Creek  for  the  canal,  and  further  at- 
tempts at  drainage  were  abandoned. 

In  April,  1852,  an  Act  was  passed  appointing  Amos 
Root,  John  Dunning,  Henry  Monell,  and  David  E.  E. 
Mix,  Commissioners,  to  lay  out  and  construct  a  high- 
way across  the  Tonawanda  Swamp,  on  the  line  be- 
tween ranges  one  and  two,  of  the  Holland  Purchase. 
A  road  was  made  and  opened  to  travel  under  this  Act, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $2,750. 

As  the  surrounding  country  became  settled,  this 
swamp  became  an  obstacle  in  passing  through  it, 
from  the  great  expense  required  to  make  and  main- 
tain highways.  This  large  tract  yielded  but  little  re- 
tiu'ii  to  the  owners,  and  paid  but  little  tax  to  the  pub- 
lic. No  further  attempts  to  drain  were  made.  The 
association  sold  their  lands  to  difierent  individuals, 
and  nothing  was  done  to  reclaim  this  tract,  until 
April  16,  1855,  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  appointed 
Amos  Root,  S.M. Burroughs,  Ambrose  Bowen,  Robert 
Hill,  John  B.  King,  and  Henry  Monell,  Commission- 
ers to  drain  the  swamp. 

It  was  provided  in  this  Act,  tliat  the  Commissioners 


OF  OKLEANS   COUNTY.  35 

should  assess  the  expenses  of  their  work  upon  the 
owners  of  the  lands  immediately  affected  by  the 
drainage,  in  proportion  to  the  benefits  each  would  be 
adjudged  to  receive ;  the  whole  amount  of  such  as- 
sessment not  to  exceed  $20,000. 

The  Commissioners  entered  uj)on  their  work,  and 
made  an  estimate  and  assessment  of  the  expense. — 
This  gave  offense  to  the  parties  assessed,  who  united 
almost  unanimously,  the  next  year,  in  a  petition  to 
the  Legislature  to  repeal  the  law,  and  it  was  repealed. 

In  1863,  an  Act  was  passed  appropriating  $16,306  ; 
to  be  expended  in  improving  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  and 
the  Canal  feeder,  on  condition  that  all  persons,  who 
claimed  damages  of  the  State  on  account  of  the 
makmg  the  feeder  from  Tonawanda  Creek,  to  Oak 
Orchard  should  release  all  such  claims,  before  the  ex  • 
penditure  of  the  money. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE   LOG  IIOU.se. 


Description — How  Bailt— Wiiulo-svs  and  Door — Walls  Raised  at  a  Bee 
— Cliimneys — Ovens — Cellars — Double  Log  House — Copied  after  In- 
dian Wisrwam — Fires — Great  Back  Loo; — Li";lUs. 


HE  log  lionse;  as  it  was  constructed  and  used 
hy  the  first  settlers  of  Western  New  York,  as 
"an  invstitution,"  belongs  to  a  generation  now 
gone  hy.  No  new  log  houses  are  now  being  built, 
and  the  few  old  ones  now  standing,  will  soon  be  de- 
stroyed by  the  relentless  "  tooth  of  time,*'  and  of  those 
who  were  their  builders  and  occupants,  soon  not  one 
Avill  be  left  to  tell  their  story. 

The  most  primitive  log  house,  to  which  we  refer. 
was  rather  a  rough  looking  edifice,  usually  12  or  15 
by  15  or  20  feet  square.  It  was  made  of  logs,  of  al- 
most any  kind  of  timber,  nearest  at  hand,  of  uniform 
size.  These  were  used  with  the  bark  on,  by  rolling 
one  log  upon  another  horizontally,  notcliing  the  cor- 
ners to  make  tliem  lie  close  together,  to  tho  height 
wanted  for  tlie  outer  walls  of  the  house. 

An  opt'uing  in  one  side  was  lelt  for  a  door,  and 
commonly  another  for  a  window.  Poles  were*  laid 
across  tlie  walls  for  a  chamber  Hooi-  to  re  st  on,  to  be 
reach'.Ml  by  a  moveable  ladder.  A  ridge  ])ol<>  and 
rafters  sui)ported  a  roof,  which  was  made  of  oak  or 
hemlock  splints,  or  elm  bark. 

Bark  for  roofs  was  i^eeled  in  June,  in  strii)S  about 
four  feet  long,  and  laid  upon   the  rafteis  in  courses. 


OF  OKLEAiS^S   COU:XTY.  S7 

licld  to  the  rafter  by  lieavv  poles  laid  traiisversly, 
and  bound  on  by  strips  of  bark.  An  openini;'  in  the 
roof  at  one  end  was  left  for  the  escape  of  smoke  from 
the  tire,  which  was  built  ux)on  the  ground  undei-  the 
opening.  "^Fhe  remainder  of  the  ground  enclosed  was 
covered  with  a  floor  of  basswood  logs,  split,  or  hewed 
to  a  flat  surface.  The  crevices  between  tlie  logs  were 
filled  or  "cliinked"  as  they  called  it,  by  putting  in 
splints  in  large  openings,  and  plastering  vrith  clay  in- 
side and  out. 

When  a  sash,  lighted  with  glass,  could  be  procured 
that  was  used  for  the  window.  Instead  of  glass,  oil- 
ed paper  was  sometimes  substituted.  In  an  extreme 
case,  the  door  was  ihade  of  splints  hewed  flat  and 
thin ;  but  ordinarily  of  sawed  boards,  hung  upon 
wooden  hinges,  and  fastened  with  a  wooden  latch, 
which  was  raised  by  a  string  tied  to  the  latch,  and 
put  through  a  hole,  to  lift  the  latch  from  the  outside. 
Hence,  to  say  of  a  householder,  "his  latch  string  was 
always  out,"  was  equivalent  to  declaring  his  generous 
spirit  in  opening  his  house  to  whoever  applied  for 
hospitality. 

The  carpenter  and  joiner  work  on  the  house  was 
now  complete.  Masons,  x^ainters,  glaziers,  and  all 
other  house  builders,  had  nothing  to  do  here.  The 
owner  was  his  own  architect,  and  commonly  the  house 
was  put  up  at  a  "bee,"  or  gathering  of  all  the  settlers 
in  the  neighborhood,  gratis. 

We  read  that  Solomon's  Temple  rose  without  the 
sound  of  a  hammer.  The  temple  in  that  respect  has 
no  advantage  above  these  early  homes  of  the  settlers 
of  Orleans  County.  There  was  no  hammering  here, 
for  there  w^ere  no  nails  to  be  driven.  Sturdy  blows 
with  the  ax  did  the  business,  and  every  thing  was 
fastened  with  wooden  pins,  or  withes. 

If  time  and  means  permitted,  and  the  wish  of  the 
owner  was  to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  a  cliimney,  he 


88  PIOT^EER  HISTORY 

was  gratified  by  building  one  end  wall  of  Ms  house 
with  stone,  laid  in  clay  mortar,  from  the  ground  sev- 
eral feet  in  height,  carrying  up  the  remainder  of  the 
end  with  logs  in  the  usual  way.  A  high  cross  beam, 
or  mantel,  was  put  in,  on  this  a  superstructure  of 
sticks  laid  uj^  in  a  square,  as  the  walls  of  the  house 
were,  tilled  in  with  clay,  was  carried  up  above  the 
roof  and  called-  "a  stick  chimney.'"'  This  chimney, 
and  all  the  wood  work  exposed  to  the  tire,  being  well 
plastered  with  the  cliiy  mud,  rendered  the  whole  tol- 
erably safe  from  danger  of  burning,  giving  little  en- 
couragement to  insurance  companies,  whose  agents 
never  ventured  to  take  risks  on  such  property. 

As  wealth  increased,  and  a  higher  state  of  civiliza- 
tion and  architectural  development  was  introduced  in 
the  structure  of  log  houses,  stone  chimneys  were  built 
from  the  ground  up.  About  the  time  when  stone 
chimneys  were  first  made,  cellars  under  the  log  houses 
began  to  be  constructed  ;  and  were  found  to  be  ex- 
ceedingly convenient,  as  a  depository  safe  from  frost, 
adding  much  to  tlie  storage  caj)acity  of  the  house. 

The  introduction  of  brick  ovens  marks  an  era  that 
may  be  called  modern  compared  with  the  primitive 
log  house.  These  ovens  were  sometimes  made  at  a 
distance  from  the  house,  standing  on  a  frame  of  tlie 
kind  called  Scotch  ovens. 

AVhen  the  family  had  become  sufficiently  affluent 
to  afford  it,  sometimes  a  chamber  floor  of  boards 
would  be  laid  upon  the  cross  beams  over  head  ;  leav- 
ing a  hole  in  the  flooring,  by  which  a  person  from  be- 
low could  mount  into  the  chamber  on  a  moveable  lad- 
der. 

And  sometimes  a  wealthy  settler,  who  felt  cribbed, 
and  confined  too  closely  in  a  single  room,  would  build 
an  addition  to  his  log  house,  like  the  first,  and  adjoin- 
ing it,  with  a  door  between.     The  owner  of  sucli  a 
-  double  log  house,  was  looked  upon  with  envy  and 


OF  ORLEANS    COUNTY.  ^  39 

admiration  by  all  the  neighboring  housekeepers,  who 
wondered  what  he  could  do  witli  so  ninch  room  ;  and 
it  would  be  a  remarkable  and  exceptional  case  if  the 
owner  and  his  family  did  not  put  on  some  airs  and 
go  to  keeping  tavern. 

It  woukl  be  several  years  before  the  general  class 
of  log  householders  got  a  barn.  Straw  and  fodder 
would  be  stacked  out  for  the  cattle.  And,  if  a  shelter 
for  cattle  or  horses  was  desired,  some  crotches  of  trees 
would  be  set  in  the  ground  for  posts,  poles  laid  across 
on  these,  and  a  pile  of  straw  heaped  on,  and  a  shed 
warm  and  dry  was  the  result. 

The  log  house  was  copied  from  the  wigwam  of  the 
Six  Nations  of  Indians,  as  to  its  general  form  and. 
structure.  The  bark  roof  was  similar  in  both  cases, 
but  the  Indians  commonly  built  the  walls  of  their 
Avigwams  of  bark  fastened  to  upright  poles,  without 
a  floor,  their  fire  on  the  ground  in  the  center,  the 
smoke  rising  without  any  chimney,  found  its  way 
tlirough  a  hole  left  open  in  the  center  of  the  roof. 

Fires  were  sometimes  made  in  these  log  houses  of 
the  white  men,  by  cutting  a  log  eight  or  ten  feet  long, 
from  the  largest  trees  that  would  go  through  the  door 
of  the  house  without  splitting.  This  was  run  upon 
rollers  endwise  through  the  door,  and  rolled  to  the 
back  of  the  fire  place.  A  fire  was  then  built  in  the 
niiddle  of  the  log  in  front,  and  fuel  would  be  applied 
to  that  place,  until  the  fire  would  consume  the  center 
of  the  log  ;  when  the  ends  would  be  crowded  together 
until  the  whole  was  burned.  Sometimes  such  a  back 
log  would  last  a  week  or  ten  days,  even  in  cold  weath- 
er. The  light  from  such  a  fire  was  commonly  suffi- 
cient to  illuminate  the  single  apartment  of  the  house 
at  night.  If  more  light  was  wanted,  a  dipped  tallow 
candle,  made  by  the  mistress  of  the  houseliold  ;  or  a 
taper  made  of  a  dish  of  fat,  or  grease,  with  a  i-ag  stuck 
in  it  for  a  wick,  would  answer  the  purpose. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


LOG    HOUSE   FUKXITUKE. 

Beds  and  Bedding — Fire  Place — Hooks  and  Trammel — Bake  Pan — 
Table— Chairs — Pewter  Spoons — Blue  Edged  Plates — Black  Earthen 
Tea  Pots. 


LL  household  furniture  used  at  iirst  in  the 
log  houses  of  the  farmers,  at  their  first  begin- 
ning in  the  vv'oods  on  the  Holland  Purchase, 
was  about  as  primitive  in  its  character,  as  their 
new  dAv^ellings.  It  was  such  as  was  adapted  to 
the  wants  and  circumstances  of  its  owner,  and  such 
as  he  could  readily  procure. 

For  teiuporary  use,  a  few  hemlock  boughs  on  the 
lloor,  covered  with  blankets,  made  a  comfortable  bed. 
If  a  better  bed  and  bedstead  was  wanted,  it  was  made 
by  boring  holes  in  the  logs  at  proper  height ;  putting 
in  rods  fastened  to  upright  posts  ;  and  upon  this  bed- 
stead, laying  such  a  bed  and  bedding,  as  the  taste 
and  ability  of  the  party  could  furnish.  To  a  cross 
pole  over  the  fire  place,  kettles  were  suspended  by 
wooden  or  ii-on  hooks  ;  often  by  an  instrument  called 
a  trammel^  which  was  a  Hat  iron  bar  filled  with  holes, 
hanging  from  the  pole,  on  which  a  kettle  suspended 
on  a  hook,  might  be  raised  or  lowered  at  pleasure,  by 
moving  the  hook  from  one  IioIq  to  another. 

Their  nearest  approach  to  an  oven  was  a  cast  iron 
ll)ake  pan,  covered  with  a  moveable  lid,  standing  on 
eg  s,  and  lifted  by  a  bail.  Dough  was  placed  in  this 
vessel,  and  coals  put  on  and  under  it,  when  in  use. — 


OF   OIILEANS    COUNTY.  41 

Another  cooking  utensil  was  a  fiying  2:)an,  witli  a 
handle  long  enough  to  be  held  in  the  hand  of  the 
cook,  while  the  meat  was  flying  in  the  pan  over  the 
lire.  Tlie  table  was  at  lirst  a  board,  or  box  covei- 
laid  on  a  barrel ;  and  man}^  of  the  first  families  have 
taken  their  meals  with  the  keenest  relish,  for  some 
time  after  moving  into  a  new  log  house,  oif  a  barrel 
head,  or  a  chest  cover.  Their  chairs  were  often  blocks 
of  logs,  or  benches  and  stools,  of  home  manufacture. 
It  was  many  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  Orleans 
County,  before  a  stove  of  an^^  kind  was  seen  here. 

The  pewter  mugs  and  x^l^tters,  and  the  wooden 
trenchers  that  graced  the  shelves  and  tables  of  our 
grand-mothers,  among  the  early  settlers  of  New  Eng- 
land, were  not  commonly  seen  in  the  outfit  furnished 
the  young  couple  commencing  housekeeping  among 
the  first,  on  this  part  of  the  Holland  Purchase. — 
Spoons  of  tinned  iron,  or  pewter — home  made  ;  and  a 
slender  stock  of  necessary  crockery,  including  the 
veritable  "blue  edged  plates,"  comprised  the  table 
furniture ;  not  however  forgetting  the  black  earthen 
tea  pot,  in  which  the  tea  beverage  for  the  family  was 
duly  prepared,  whether  the  ingredient  to  be  steeped 
\vas  houglden  tea,  or  sage,  or  pennyroj^al,  or  any 
other  herb  of  the  fields.  These  little  black  steepers, 
holding  about  a  quart,  were  claimed  by  their  owners 
to  make  a  better  article  of  tea,  than  mry  other  materi- 
al ;  and  were  used  for  every  day,  some  time  after 
block  tin  had  become  the  fashionable  article  for  a  tea 
pot,  which  increasing  wealth  and  pride  had  introduced. 
To  this  day,  one  of  these  interesting  relics  of  antiquity 
is  occasionally  seen,  with  its  spout  probably  broken 
off,  adorning  the  upper  back  shelf  of  some  kitchen 
pantry,  in  the  great  new  house,  which  has  succeeded 
the  log  one,  carefully  preserved,  and  annually  dusted 
by  the  loving  hands  of  the  venerable  dame,  who  used 


42  PIONEER  HISTORY 

it  once  ;  or,  of  her  grand-daughters  wlio,  inheriting  the 
time-honored  frugality  of  th(^  family,  in  turning  every 
thing  to  profitable  account,  make  even  the  old  teapot 
useful  in  storing  a  few  garden  seeds. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


CI;KAKrNG  LAND   A?^D   FIRST   CROPS. 

Cutting  down  the  Trees — Black  Salts — Slashing— Clearing — Fallow — 
Planting  and  Sowing — Harvesting — and  Cleaning  Up — How  Done.. 

RLEANS  County  was  originally  covered  witlr 


^^  a  lu^avy  growth  of  trees.  Tliese  had  to  be  re- 
moved to  open  the  soil  to  cultivation.  This, 
was  commonly  done  by  cutting  the  trees  so  as  to  leave 
a  stump,  two  or  three  feet  high.  The  felled  timber 
lay  upon  th(>  ground  until  it  was  dry,  when  tire  was 
put  in,  and  the  whole  field  was  burned  over  at  once. 
The  logs  were  then  cut  off  at  proper  length,  to  be 
hauled  together  in  heaps  by  oxen,  and  burned  ;  and 
the  ashes  of  the  heaps  collected  and  leached  to  make 
black  salts  and  potasli.  The  land  being  thus  cleared' 
of  wood,  the  first  crop  was  wheat,  sown  broadcast,. 
and  covered  with  earth  by  harrowing  the  ground  with 
a  triangular  harroAv,  or  drag. 

A  field  with  the  trees  l^'ing  as  they  fell  was  called 
a  "slashing,'' and  sometimes  a  "clearing,"  or  a  "fal- 
low," as  the  work  progressed. 

The  wheat  was  sown  in  the  fall,  to  be  harvested  the 
next  season  ;  no  spring  wheat  being  raised.  Some- 
times corn  and  potatoes  were  2:»lanted  among  tlu^  logs,, 
the  first  season,  by  digging  in  the  seed  with  a  hoe. 

It  was  several  years  before  the  land  could  be  plow- 
ed to  much  advantage,  after  the  tree's  were  felh^d,  on 
account  of  the  stumps,  but  as  these  were  cliiefi}^  hard 
wood,  they  soon  rotted  out. 

For  some  j^ears,  the  first  settlers  cut  their  wheat 


44  PlONEEIl   HISTORY 

€rop  with  a  sickle  ;  threshed  out  the  grain  with  tiails, 
or  trod  it  out  with  liorses  and  cattle,  and  freed  it 
from  chaif  by  slioveling  in  the  wind,  or  fanning  with 
a  hand  fan.  The  want  of  barn  floors,  and  other  con- 
veniences, made  all  tliese  operations  exceedingly  la- 
borious and  slow,  compared  with  such  work  now-a- 
days. 

Before  barns,  with  threshing  lloors  in  them,  were 
made,  some  farmers  made  lloors,  or  platforms  of  split 
logs,  and  laid  them  on  the  ground,  without  uny  roof 
over  them.  Beside  these,  they  stacked  their  grain 
and  threshed  it  on  these  floors  in  fair  weather,  or  trod 
it  out  with  oxen  or  liorses. 


CHAPTEK  VIII. 


lIAKDSlIirS  AND  PIIIVATIOXS. 

Want  of  Ercfidstuff— Scarcity  of  3IiHs— Difficulty  of  getting  Grain 
Ground — Mill  on  a  Stump — Fever  and  Ague — Quiuiue  and  Blue 
Pill — No  Post  Office — Keeping  Cattle — Difficulty  Keeping  Fire — 
Instance  of  Fire  Out — Want  of  Good  Water — No  Highways — Dis- 
couragement from  Sickness — Social  Amusements — Hospitality — 
Early  Merchants — Their  Stores  and  Goods — Domestic  3Ianufac- 
tures — Post  Offices  and  Mails. 


'CARCITY  of  bread  and  breadstuff's  before  the 
war,  aiid  even  dov/n  to  1818,  is  to  be  miniber- 
ed  among  tlie  hardships  and  piivations  which 
beset  the  settlers ;  and  even  when  they  could  get  a 
bushel  of  wheat,  or  corn,  the  difficulty  in  reducing: 
the  grain  to  Hour,  or  meal,  was  truly  formidable. — 
The  n(^arest  mill  was  1 5  to  30  miles  away  ;  there  was 
no  road  leading  to  it :  and  probably  no  horse  to  draw, 
or  ("arry  the  grist,  if  a  road  liad  bo^en  opened.  But 
meal  must  be  had,  th'.'  undaunted  emigrant  would 
liitch  his  oxen  to  his  sled,  or  wagon,  pile  on  a  V)ag  for 
himself,  and  take  as  many  bags  for  his  neighbors,  as 
th<^  occasion  required,  and  start  for  some  mill.  We 
will  leave  imagination  to  des(^ribe  his  journey.  After 
thred'  or  four  days  absence,  it  is  announced  in  the  set- 
tlemcMit  that  Mi-.  A.  has  got  back  from  the  mill,  and 
nrarvelously  soon  would  (>ach  family  be  eating  pud- 
ding, or  have  a  cake.  But,  what  if  the  family  had  no 
neighbors  ;  and  no  horse  or  ox,  to  carry  their  grist.— 
Still  the  grist  must  go  at  once.  Its  owner  shoulders  a 
lialf  a  bushel,  or  a  Imshel,  according  to  his  strength, 
and  carries  it  to  the  mill,  be  th(»  distance  what  it  may. 


46  riONEEll   lIISTOIiY 

threading  Ids  way  by  marked  trees,  through  the 
woods.  Such  Journeys  were  not  liglitly  to  be  thought 
of,  and  they  were  honestly  performed. 

A  sort  of  domestic  mill,  in  which  corn  could  be  re- 
-duced  to  meal,  was  made,  and  used,  by  some  of  the 
settlers,  by  making  a  hollow  in  the  top  of  a  hardwood 
stump  for  a  mortar  ;  rigging  a  heavy  pestle  on  a  spring 
pole  over  the  mortar ;  and  thus  pounding  the  corn 
line  enough  to  be  cooked. 

But,  if  the  new  comers  had  bread  enough  and  to 
spare,  they  all  had  to  pay  a  penalty  to  Nature,  in  the 
acclimating  process,  which  all  went  through  almost 
without  exception.  Fever  and  ague  attacked  the  pi- 
•oneer,  or  his  wife,  or  children,  or  all  of  them  together, 
whenever  an  opening  was  made  in  the  forest ;  or  the 
^arth  was  turned  up  for  the  first  time  to  the  hot  rays  of 
the  summer  sun. 

Oh,  the  amount  of  quinine  and  blue  pill,  consumed 
in  those  days,  by  those  who  could  get  a  doctor  to  pre- 
scribe in  their  case ;  while  those  sick  ones,  who  had 
no  doctor,  because  there  was  none  to  be  had,  wore 
their  ague  out,  and  let  it  work  itself  off  the  natural 
way ;  generally  coming  out  about  as  well  as  those 
who  doctored,  and  tried  to  "break"  it,  excepting  that 
they  took  more  time  to  do  it. 

The  first  professional  doctors  who  came  in  were 
most  intensely  allopathic  in  their  practice  ;  and  dealt 
out  quinine  and  blue  pill  in  most  heroic  doses  to  their 
patients  ;  infinitessimal  prescriptions,  and  homeopath- 
ic practice,  had  not  then  been  thought  of. 

Another  privation,  if  not  a  hardship,  consisted  in  a 
lack  of  post  oflices,  and  mail  facilities.  Coming  as 
most  of  the  pioni^ers  did  from  New  England,  which 
they,  and  their  fathers  regarded  as  a  civilizt^d  country; 
and  where  they  had  always  liad  post  ofiice  accommo- 
<lations  all  they  wanti^d,  it  was  rather  hard  to  be  shut 
out  compleU'ly  from  the  (uik;r  world. 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  47 

The  first  settlers  in  Orleans  County  got  their  letters 
from  Batavia,  or  Clarksou.  They  did  not  take  news- 
papers by  mail. 

The  first  winter  was  a  hard  time  for  the  pioneer  to 
keep  his  cattle,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  fodder. 
It  took  several  years  to  clear  the  trees,  and  get  a  crop 
of  hay  grown  in  their  places  ;  and  a  year  or  two  was 
required  before  cornstalks,  or  straw  could  be  pro- 
duced. If  nobody  in  the  neighborhood  had  fodder  to 
sell,  the  new  settler  must  cut  down  trees  for  his  cattle 
to  browse,  or  feed  upon  the  boughs,  a  work  of  im- 
mense labor,  especially  in  severe  cold  weather,  and 
deep  snows  ;  and  a  sad  time  the  poor  cattle  had,  com- 
pelled to  lie  out  exposed  to  all  storms,  and  feeding  on 
such  diet. 

Especial  care  had  to  be  taken  to  keep  fire  from  go- 
ing out  in  their  dwellings,  it  was  so  difficult  to  recov- 
er it  again.  An  instance  is  given  of  such  a  loss  in  the 
house  of  widow  Gilbert,  in  Gaines,  who  returning 
from  the  funeral  of  her  husband,  found  the  fire  was 
out,  and  no  means  at  hand  to  kindle  it.  Fire  had  to 
be  procured  from  the  nearest  neighbors,  then  several 
miles  off".  The  tinder  box  and  powder  horn,  were  the 
usual  resort  in  such  cases,  but  these  might  be  out  as 
well  as  the  fire.  Friction  matches  had  not  then  been 
invented.  And  it  was  an  inconvenience  at  least,  to  be 
deprived  of  soft  water,  the  bark  roof  of  a  log  cabin  be- 
ing a  poor  contrivance  for  collecting  it,  when  there 
was  no  snow  to  melt.  The  hard  water  from  the 
ground  was  prepared  for  washing  clothes  by  "cleans- 
ing," as  they  called  it,  by  putting  in  wood  ashes 
■enough  to  form  a  weak  lye. 

The  Holland  Company  commonly  sold  their  lands 
for  a  small  payiuent  down  ;  and  gave  a  contract,  ex- 
tending payments  for  the  balance,  from  five  to  ten 
years  ;  with  interest  annually  after  about  two  years. 

This  seemed  to  })e  a  good  bargain  to  the  settler  at 


48  PIONEEK    IIISTOm' 

first ;  for,  altliougli  he  was  poor,  ho  felt  lu^pefiil  and 
strong-,  and  went  into  the  woods  to  begin -liis  clearing, 
sanguine  in  the  belief  tliat  he  could  meet  his  payments 
as  they  fell  due.  fr(^m  the  produce  of  his  land  ;  be- 
sides paying  the  necessary  expenses  of  his  living,  and 
his  improv(^ments.  But,  after  a.  year  or  two,  a  part 
of  his  famil}^  ar(r^  takeii  sick  ;  doctors  and  nurses 
must  be  paid  ;  stot'k,  team,  tools,  furniture,  and  pro- 
visions, must  be  bought.  He  mr.y  hav(^  cleared  a  few 
acres,  l)uilt  a.  log  cabin,  and  raised  some  crops,  more 
than  was  needed  Ibr  lionu^  consumption  ;  but  the  sur- 
plus he  could  not  sell.  Tlie  road  to  a  market  was  im- 
passible for  teams  ;  and,  iC  the  roads  luid  been  opened, 
if  was  hard  work  at  best  to  ])ay  for  land  by  raising 
wheat  among  the  stumps,  at  th<^  price  of  thirty  cents 
a  bushel.  Is  it  surprising  that  under  circumstances 
like  these,  some  of  the  earli<n'  settlers  of  this  count}', 
after  toiling  sevei'al  years,  and  linding  thems'.dves 
constantly  running  behind  hand,  got  discouraged,  and 
wanted  to  sell  out,  and  go  awa^y.  .\nd  many  would 
have  sold  their  claims,  and  left  the  country,  or  gone 
any  way,  Avhether  they  sold  or  not,  if  the  Land  Com- 
pany had  enforced  their  l(\gal  rights  on  th'eii-  Articles 
as  they  fell  due.  But  the  Company  were  It^nient. — 
They  gave  off  interest  due  them,  and  soinetimcs  ])rin- 
cipal,  in  cases  of  great  hardshi]i  to  the  settler.  Many 
times,  when  he  went  to  the  Land  Office  to  say  lie 
could  not  make  his  payments,  and  must  give  it  up  ; 
the  agents  of  the  ( 'Ompany  linding  him  industrious  and 
frugal,  trying  to  do  Uw  l^est  he  could,  woukl  nnvthini 
with  such  words  of  kindness,  generous  encouragement 
and  cheer,  that  he  would  go  back  to  liis  home  with 
fresli  courage,  to  renew  his  battle  with  the  mnsketos, 
the  ague,  and  tlie  Ixvars ;  and  wait  a  little  long(»r  for 
tlie  good  time  coming.  But  few  were  al)le  to  take 
deeds  of  their  lands,  and  ])ay  for  them,  until  after  the 
Erie   Canal   was  navigable.     Tiiey  kept  on  cl(^aring 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  49 

land,  and  enlarging  their  lields ;  and  between  the 
years  1880  and  1836,  good  crops  of  wheat  were  raised, 
and  sold  at  the  canal,  for  about  a  dollar  a  bushel. — 
Til  en  the  clouds  of  gloom  began  to  lift  from  the  face 
of  the  country.  Prosperity  had  verily  come  ;  no  more 
''hardships,  privations  and  sufferings"  after  that ;  and 
more  deeds  of  land  were  taken  from  the  Holland  Com- 
pany, in  this  county,  in  those  years,  than  were  given 
in  all  others  together. 

Notwithstanding  so  many  and  so  great  discourage- 
ments, surrounded  the  pioneers,  they  never  yielded  to 
the  gloom  of  the  present,  or  suffered  their  great  hope 
in  the  future  to  die.  They  had  their  joys  as  well  as 
griefs,  running  along  their  pathway  together.  Social 
amusements,  conviviality',  fun  and  good  feeling,  were 
intermingled  with  their  sadder  experiences. 
Thej^  visited  together,  labored  for  and  with  each  oth- 
er. They  exchanged  work  in  chopping,  logging,  and 
in  heavy  toil  on  their  lands,  where  several  together 
could  work  at  better  advantage  than  alone. 

They  were  "  given  to  hospitality."  They  aided,  as- 
sisted, and  helped  one;  another  ;  with  a  liberality  and 
kindness,  that  seems  remarkable  in  contrast  with  the 
selfishness  of  older  society. 

If  a  family  came  in,  who  had  not  in  advance  built 
themselves  a  cal)in  for  their  residence,  they  had  no 
difficulty  in  finding  a  sto2:»ping  place  with  almost  any 
settler,  who  had  got  ar  house,  until  a  log  house  could 
he  built.  And  the  best  of  it  was,  all  the  mc^  in  the 
neighborhood  assembled  at  a  "bee,"  and  built  a  log 
house  gratis,  for  their  new  friends,  if  it  was  necessaiy. 

If  a  man  fell  sick  in  seed  time,  or  harvest,  and  could 
not  do  his  work,  his  neighbors  would  turn  in  and  sow 
his  seed,  or  gather  his  crop  for  him.  If  a  family  was 
out  of  provisions,  everybody,  who  had  a  stock,  shared 
with  the  needy  ones. 

A  happy  feature  of  this  primitive  society  was  the 


50  PIONEER  HISTORY 

entii'e  absence  of  caste,  dividing  the  people  into  class- 
es, and  making  social  distinctions.  Everybody  was 
considered  just  as  good,  and  no  better,  than  every- 
body else.  All  met  and  mingled  on  terms  of  social 
equality. 

At  the  dancing  parties,  quilting  frolics,  weddings 
and  other  gatherings  of  the  people  for  social  enjoy- 
ment, everybody  in  the  neighborhood  was  invited, 
wdi ether  tliey  wore  "store clothes,"  or  common  home- 
spun ;  and  they  commonly  all  attended. 

People  generall}^  were  acquainted  with  everbody 
near  them.  Old  people  are  living,  who  say  for  sever- 
al years  they  knew  every  family  in  town  ;  and  used 
to  visit  with  them,  going  often  on  foot  miles  through 
the  woods,  by  marked  trees,  to  meet  together. 

As  clearing  away  the  forest,  and  doing  the  heavy 
work  of  beginning  settlements  in  the  woods,  constitu- 
ted the  main  business  of  the  pioneers ;  they  thus 
learned  to  value  ability  to  excel  in  whatever  was  use- 
ful in  their  calling. 

Hence,  at  theu*  loggings,  raisings,  and  other  assem- 
"blings  for  work,  or  x>lay,  friendly  trials  of  strength  or 
sMll,  found  favor.  Contests  in  chopping,  lifting,  cut- 
ting wheat  and  other  tests  of  muscle,  were  common ; 
and  seldom  did  a  number  of  young  men  meet  on  a 
festive  occasion  without  forming  a  ring  for  wrestling. 

The  pioneers,  at  their  first  coming  here,  were  gener- 
ally young.  They  were  resolute,  intelligent,  deter- 
mined and  persistent ;  for  no  others  would  quit  the 
comparative  ease,  safety  and  comfort  of  older  socie- 
ty, to  encounter  the  certain  hardships,  perils  and  dis- 
couragements of  frontier  settlement  in  the  woods,  in 
such  a  country  as  this  was.  The  true  grit  of  the  emi- 
grant was  proved  by  the  fact  that  he  came  here  ;  and 
such  men  were  not  to  be  driven  back  by  hardships, 
want,  sickness  or  misfortune. 

While  the  hope  and  resolution  of  the  settler  could 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  51 

not  protect  liim  from  sickness  and  calamity,  they  fill- 
ed liim  with  fortitude  to  endure  them,  gave  him  a 
keen  relish  to  enjoy  whatever  in  his  way  might  afford 
a  pleasure. 

Looking  at  these  pioneers  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  present  day,  an  observer  might  well  conclude  they 
were  as  happy  then,  as  their  descendents  are  now,  on 
the  same  ground.  Many  who  began  here  in  poverty 
and  want  and  w^orked  their  way  through  every  diffi- 
culty to  wealth  and  abundance,  have  often  said  in 
their  old  age,  their  happiest  days  in  life  were  spent  in 
their  old  log  houses,  away  back  among  the  stumps, 

EARLY  JIERCIIANTS — THEIR  STORES  AND  GOODS. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  this  county,  asheries 
were  built;  the  large  quantities  of  wood  ashes, produced 
in  burning  the  log  heaps  in  clearing  land,  were  a 
source  from  which  money  could  be  made  easier  than 
from  crops  of  grain  raised. 

These  ashes  were  leached  in  rude  leaches  ;  the  lye 
obtained  was  boiled  down  to  a  semi-solid  state,  call- 
ed black  salts  ;  and  then  sold  to  Mr.  James  Mather, 
or  some  owner  of  an  ashery,  who  put  the  salts 
through  the  ]:>rocesses  of  making  potash,  or  pearlash, 
a  refined  kind  of  potash,  the  use  of  which  is  now  super- 
ceded by  saleratus. 

These  products  of  ashes  brought  some  money  and 
were  taken  by  the  merchants  in  exchange  for  their 
goods. 

Before  the  canal  was  made,  merchants'  goods  were 
brought  in  by  water,  by  wa}'  of  Lake  Ontario,  or  on 
wagons,  from  Albany. 

Kobert  Hunter  and  brothers,  of  Eagle  Harbor,  were 
teamsters  who  traveled  to  and  from  Albany  with 
large  teams  of  horses  to  wagons  and  brought  in  most 
of  the  goods  used  here  for  several  years,  before  they 
came  by  the  canal. 


52  PIONEER  HISTORY 

A  wagon  load  would  go  a  great  way  in  stocking  a- 
store  tlien.  The  important  and  heavy  article  of  whisky 
was  made  sufficient  for  home  consumption  here. 

Merchants  did  not  then  as  now  confine  their  trade 
to  a  single  line  of  goods,  as  hardware,  di-ugs,  grocer- 
ies, etc.,  but  tfieir  stock,  in  the  common  language  of 
their  advertisements,  comprised  "all  the  articles  usu- 
ally called  for  at  a  country  store;"  and  that  meant 
(3verythiDg  the  people  wanted  to  buy  at  a  store.  The 
wants  of  the  settlers  were  few  and  simple  in  the  line 
of  such  goods.  They  confined  their  purchases  to  ar- 
ticles of  prime  necessity,  which  they  could  not  well 
do  without,  such  as  tools  to  work  "with,  building  ma- 
terials, &c.,  which  did  not  grow  upon  their  land  ;  an  oc 
casional  calico  dress,  and  a  few  kinds  of  utensils,, 
sucli  as  they  could  not  make  at  home. 

These  goods  were  generally  bought  on  credit,  the 
pay  being  promised  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  merchant 
when  he  went  to  New  York,  a,  journey  he  undertook 
about  twic(?  a  year.  These  debts  were  not  all  paid 
when  due,  and  many  of  them  were  collected  by  legal 
process,  and  many  of  them  were  lost  to  their  owners. 
The  credit  system  was  a  bad  one  for  both  parties  in 
many  cases.  People  found  it  very  difficult  to  pay 
their  store  debts  before  the  canal  was  made ;  for 
though  they  had  a  large  and  good  farm,  plenty  of  the 
finest  wheat,  and  possibly  a  stock  of  cattle,  hogs  and 
horses ;  they  had  no  money,  and  could  not  sell  their 
stuii'  for  money,  as  they  could  not  get  it  to  a  market-. 
Timber  was  plenty,  and  sawTuills  had  been  built 
about  th(?  time  the  canal  became  navigable  ;  and  saw- 
ed lumber  t\un\  paid  ston?  debts  ;  and  wheat,  pork, 
fiour  and  produce  of  all  kinds,  that  could  go  to  mar- 
ket on  the  (umal,  found  a  ready  sale,  at  fair  prices  ;. 
and  thus  means  to  pay  debts  could  be  obtained. 

DOMESTIC  MANUFACTURES. 

Most  of*  the  early  settlers  were  New  England  Yan- 


OF  ORLEANS   COUIS'TY.  53 

kees,  of  that  class,  who.  if  they  wanted  a  thing  they 
had  not  got,  they  made  it.  AVith  very  few  tools,  and 
those  of  the  simplest  kinds,  they  made  almost  ever}- 
thing  reqnired,  that  conld  l)e  ^^rodueed  from  the  ma- 
terials on  hand. . 

The}'  brought  in  a  few  clothes  when  they  came  ; 
when  these  were  worn  ont,  the}'  supplied  their  wants 
viith.  cloth  made  at  home.  The  women  made  up  the 
common  articles  of  clothing  for  their  families.  If  the 
man  had  a  new  coat,  or  other  garment  his  v/ife  did 
not  feel  competent  to  make,  the  cloth  was  taken  to 
some  one  properly  skilled,  to  be  cut  out,  and  a  tailor- 
ess  would  come  to  his  house,  and  make  it  up.  These 
itinerant  seamstresses,  did  most  of  the  needlework  re- 
quired by  the  family,  and  which  they  could  not  do 
themselves ;  the  modern  classilication'  of  needle  wo- 
men into  milliners,  mantau  makers,  dress  makers,  <S:c., 
did  not  then  prevail. 

The  people  got  their  leather  made  b}-  neighboring 
tanners,  and  from  such  stock,  a  traveling  shoemaker 
visited  the  houses  of  his  customers,  and  made  and 
mended  their  shoes  and  boots.  The  boys  and  girls, 
and  some  of  the  older  folks,  commonly  went  barefoot 
in  the  summer,  and  often  in  the  winter  likcAvise. 

POST  OFFICES  AND  MAILS. 

Mr.  Merwin  S.  Hawley  of  Buffalo,  son  of  Judge 
Elijah  Hawley,  who  resided  in  Ridge  way  in  his  boy- 
hood, and  speaks  from  his  recollection  says  : 

"In  1815,  the  only  mail  to  and  through  Ridgeway, 
was  carried  on  horseback  twice  a  week,  between  Can- 
andaigua  and  Lewiston.  Oct.  22,  1816,  a  post  office 
was  established  at  Ridgeway  Corners,  named  "■  Oak 
Orcliard,"  Elijah  Hawley,  postmaster. 

The  mail  was  ]iow  carried  in  two  horse  carriages, 
three  times  a  week  each  way  ;  stopping  over  night  at 
Huff's  tavern  in  East  Gaines. 


64  :piOKEER  HISTORY 

Aug.  24, 1817,  a  post  office  was  established  at  Oak 
Orchard  Creek,  on  the  Ridge,  which  place  was  then 
growing  to  be  a  smart  village,  and  James  Brown  was 
appointed  postmaster  there. 

To  make  the  names  of  the  offices  conform  to  the 
name  of  the  places  where  they  were  located,  the  new 
post  office  was  called  "  Oak  Orchard,"  and  the  name 
of  the  other  was  changed  to  "Ridgeway,  "  Mr.  Haw- 
ley  holding  the  office  of  postmaster  there  until  his 
death.  During  this  year,  (1817,)  a  daily  line  of  mail 
stages,  each  way,  between  Rochester  and  Le  wist  on, 
on  the  Ridge  Road,  was  commenced. 

A  post  office  was  established  at  Gaines,  July  1, 
1816,  Wm.  J.  Babbitt  postmaster. 

The  next  post  office  in  Orleans  County  was  located 
at  Shelby  Center,  and  got  its  mail  from  Ridgeway. 

Post  offices  were  located  in  other  parts  of  the  coun- 
ty from  time  to  time,  as  the  wants  of  increasing  popu- 
lation required. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  EKIE  CANAL. 

When  Begun — Effect — Rise  in  Price  ot  Everything— Progress  of  Im- 
provement— Carriages  on  Springs. 

^'^^ 

HE  work  in  digging  the  Erie  Canal  was  begun 
on  the  middle  section  near  Utica,  on  tlie  4tli  of 
July,  1817.  In  1823,  the  eastern  part  of  the 
canal  was  so  far  completed,  that  in  November  boats 
from  Kochester  reached  Albanj^,  at  the  same  time 
with  boats  from  Lake  Champlain,  on  the  Champlain 
Canal.  And  in  Nov.,  1825,  a  fleet  of  boats  from  Buf- 
falo passed  the  entire  length  of  the  Erie  Canal,  carry- 
ing passengers  to  the  Gi'and  Canal  Celebration  at  New 
York. 

To  no  part  of  the  State  of  New  York  has  the  Erie 
Canal  proved  of  more  benefit  than  to  Orleans  County. 

Although  the  soil  was  fertile  and  j)roductive,  and 
yielded  abundant  crops  to  reward  tlie  toil  of  the 
farmer,  yet  its  inland  location  and  great  difficulty  of 
transporting  produce  to  market,  rendered  it  of  little 
value  at  home.  Settlers  who  had  located  here,  in 
many  instances,  had  become  discouraged.  Others, 
who  desired  to  emigrate  to  the  Genesee  country,  were 
Itept  back  by  the  gloomy  accounts  they  got  of  life  in 
the  wilderness,  with  little  prospect  of  easy  communi- 
cation with  the  old  Eastern  States  to  cheer  the  hope. 

As  soon  as  the  Canal  became  navigable,  Holley, 
Albion,  Knowlesville  and  Medina,  villages  on  its 
banks,  were  built  up.  Actual  settlers  took  up  all 
the  unoccupied  L^nds,   and   cleared  them   up.     No 


56  PIONEEK   IIISTOIIY 

speculators  came  here  and  boiiglit  up  large  tr£icts, 
and  left  them  wild,  to  rise  on  tlie  market.  The  lum- 
"ber  of  the  country  found. a  ready  market  and  iioated 
away.  Wheat  was  worth  four  tunes  as  much  as  the 
price  for  wdiich  it  had  been  previously  selling.  Pros- 
perity came  in  on  every  hand  ;  the  mud  dried  up,  and 
the  musketoes,  and  the  ague,  and  the  fever,  and  the 
bears,  left  the  country.  Farmers  jiaid  for  their 
lands,  surrendered  their  articles,  and  took  deeds  from 
the  Company.  Good  barns  and  framed  houses,  and 
houses  of  brick,  and  stone  began  to  be  built,  as  the 
common  dwellings  of  the  inhabitants.  "The. good 
time  coming,'"  wdiich  the  first  settlers  could  not  see, 
but  waited  for,  with  a  faint  and  dreamy  l)ut  persistent 
hope,  had  come  indeed.  The  price  of  lands  rose  rap- 
idly, making  many  wealthy,  who  happened  to  locate 
farms  in  desirable  places,  from  the  rise  in  value  of 
their  lands.  From  this  time  forward,  rich  men,  from 
the  Easter Ji  States,  and  older  settlements,  began  to 
€ome  in  and  buy  out  the  farms  and  improvements  of 
those  who  had  begun  in  the  woods  and  now  found 
themselves,  like  Coopers  Leather  Stocking,  "lost  in 
the  clearings,""  and  wished  to  move  on  to  the  borders 
of  civilization,  where  the  hunting  and  fishing  was  bet- 
ter and  where  the  ruder  institutions,  manners  and 
customs  of  frontier  life,  to  which  they  had  become  at- 
attached,  would  bo  better  enjoyed  among  congeiiial 
spirits. 

The  clearing  away  of  shade  trees,  thus  drying  up 
the  mud  and  the  substantial  bridges  over  streams 
and  leveled  and  graveled  highways,  which  the  num- 
bers and  abundant  means  of  the  people,  now  enabled 
them  to  establish,  occasioned  a  demand  for  other  car- 
riages for  the  conveyance  of  these  now  independent 
farmers  and  their  families. 

Time  was  when  they  went  to  mill  and  to  meeting, 
to  the  social  visit,  or  the  quilting  frolic,  hax^py  on  an 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  57 

OX  sled.  A  little  progress,  and  pride  and  ambition 
substituted  horses  and  lumber  wagons  as  the  common 
veliicles  of  travel,  in  place  of  the  oxen  and  sleds. 
A  buggy  was  no  more  known  or  used  than  a  balloon 
in  those  wagon  days,  and  when  tlie  canal  was  first 
made  navigable,  there  was  not  probably  a  one-horse 
buggy  in  Orleans  County.  Indeed  several  years  after 
boats  began  trips  on  the  <'anal,  Messrs.  R.  S.  &  L. 
Burrows,  then  merchants  in  Albion,  brought  on  six 
or  eight  one-horse  wagons,  with  wooden  springs  under 
the  seats,  manufactured  in  Connecticut,  and  put  them 
on  sale  ;  and  great  was  the  wonder  of  the  people,  and 
the  comment  they  made  upon  the  amazing  luxury 
and  comfort  and  ease  in  i-iding  in  tliese  little  rattling, 
jolting  machines. 


CHAPTER  X. 


I'UBLIC   niGUWAYS. 

The  Ridge  Road — When  Laid  Out — Appropriation — Oak  Orchard 
Road — Opened  by  Holland  Company — Road  from  Shelby  to  Oak 
Orchard  in  Barre — Salt  Works  Roads — State  Road  along  Canal — 
Judge  Porter's   Account  of  first  Tracing  the  Ridge  Road. 


LTHOUGIH  the  Ridire  Road  had  been  travel- 


^^  ed  by  the  Indians  from  time  immemorial,  and 
C  after  the  settlement  of  the  country  by  white 
men,  improvements  had  been  made  by  cutting  out 
trees,  and  making  the  crossings  at  the  streams  of 
water  more  passable,  yet  many  large  trees  still  ob- 
structed the  carriage  way,  and  bridges  were  wanted 
in  many  places.  In  April,  1814,  the  Legislature  of 
the  State  appropriated  $5,000,  and  appointed  com- 
missioners to  apply  said  sum  to  the  improvements  of 
such  parts  of  said  road  between  Rochester  and  Le^vis- 
ton,  as  said  commissioners  should  think  proper,  for 
the  public  benefit.  This  appropriation,  together  "wdth 
some  labor  by  the  few  inhabitants  then  living  on  this 
route,  made  the  Ridge  road  a  tolerably  fair  wagon 
road. 

The  Ridge  road,  so  called,  was  regularly  laid  out 
and  established  by  Pliik-tus  Swift  and  Caleb  Hopkins, 
under  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  passed  Feb.  10,  1815. 
An  act  i)roviding  for  a  re-sarvey  of  the  Ridge  Road, 
from  Rochester  to  Lewiston,  was  passed  March  24, 
1852,  John  LeValley,  Grosvenor  Daniels  iand  William 
J.  Babbitt  were  appointed  commissioners  to  superin- 
tend the  work  tlirough  Orleans  County.     Darius  W. 


■OF   OKLEANS   COUNTY.  59 

Cole,  of  Medina,  was  the  Surveyor,  and  the  road  was 
re-surveyed  and  established  six  rods  wide.  Although 
the  Ridge  road  had  been  opened  and  traveled  many 
years,  no  survey  and  record  of  it  had  been  made  be- 
fore Swift  &  Hopkins'  survey. 

Mr.  Lewis  W.  Gates,  formerly  of  Gaines,  relates 
that  about  the  year  1843,  Judge  Augustus  Porter, 
then  of  Niagara  Falls,  gave  him  the  following  account 
of  the  Ridge  Road. 

He,  Judge  Porter,  and  others,  were  interested  in 
surveying  and  locating  a  large  tract  of  land  west  of 
Genesee  River,  since  known  as  The  Triangle.  The 
Indians  told  them  there  was  a  gravelly  ridge  extend- 
ing from  the  Genesee  to  Niagara  River.  Porter  and 
his  company  emjiloyed  a  surveyor  named  Eli  Gran- 
ger, to  go  with  a  few  men  and  trace  a  road  through 
on  this  Ridge,  from  river  to  river,  and  they  traced  the 
Ridge  Road  through  near  its  present  location,  in  1798. 

The  Oak  Orchard  Road  was  the  first  highway  cross- 
ing Orleans  County  north  and  south,  that  was  open- 
ed and  worked.  Supposing,  as  everybody  then  did, 
that  the  trade  from  this  part  of  the  country  must  go 
by  the  lake,  and  that  Oak  Orchard  Harbor  would  be 
its  place  of  embarkation,  the  Holland  Company  and 
the  settlers,  at  an  early  day  ox^ened  this  road  for 
teams,  made  log  causeways  through  wet  places  and 
bridged  the  streams.  It  w^as  a  rough  road,  but  teams 
could  get  through  with  light  loads,  as  early  as  before 
the  war. 

Andrew  A.  Ellicott  built  a  mill  on  the  Oak  Orchard 
Creek,  at  Shelby  Center,  about  the  year  1813.  To  ac- 
commodate travel  to  this  mill  and  jH'omote  the  sale 
of  land,  the  Holland  Company  cut  out  a  highway 
leading  from  the  Oak  Orchard  road  near  the  County 
Poor  House,  to  Shelby  Center.  This  highway  follow- 
ed the  ridge  of  highest  land,  crooking  about  on  places 
where  it  could  bo  easiest  constructed.     It  is  still  used 


60  PIOTs^EEIl   IlISTOKY 

as  a  public  liigliway,  and  is  traveled  on  or  near  tlie 
line  originall}^  i'ollowed.  This  was  the  iirst  road  cut 
out  for  teams,  east  and  west,  south  of  tlie  ridge.  As 
the  timber  whicli  grew  in  this  County  was  generally 
hard  wood  and  decayed  soon,  few  fellen  trees,  or  logs 
lay  in  the  woods  to  obstruct  teams  passing  anj'where 
in  the  forest,  where  standing  timber  or  swamps  did 
not  prevent ;  and  the  course  of  travel  was  directed  by 
marked  trees,  until  enough  inliabitants  had  come  in 
to  lay  out  and  work  roads. 

Before  the  forest  vras  cleaved  from  this  county, 
much  of  the  land  was  wet,  and  in  fitting  a  highway 
for  travel,  a  large  amount  of  log  caus(nvay  had  to  be 
laid,  in  places  now  dr}^  hard  land.  AVhere  the  Oak 
Orchard  Road  crosses  the  canal  in  Albion,  and  for 
many  rods  nortli  and  south  of  the  canal,  such  a  caiise- 
way  was  laid.  Indeed,  man}'  farms,  which  in  a  wild 
state,  were  not  taken  by  settlers  at  first,  because  tlie}' 
were  so  low  and  wet,  now,  on  draining  the  water  off, 
and  cutting  away  the  trees,  are  the  best  farming  land 
in  the  neighborhood. 

The  Ridge  Road  was  laid  out  six  rods  Vvide,  and 
the  Oak  Orchard  Road  four  rods  wide.  In  selling 
lands  bordering  on  the  Ridge  Road,  or  the  OakOrcli 
ard  Road,  the  Holland  Company  bounded  the  tract 
they  sold  by  the  outer  lines  of  the  road  ;  thus  giving 
the  lands  the  roads  covered  to  the  public.  In  selling 
lands  on  all  other  roads,  the}'  deeded  to  the  center  of 
the  highway.  When  no  natural  obstruction  prevent- 
ed, highways  were  laid  out  on  the  line  of  lots  accord- 
ing to  the  Company's  surve}',  and  then  the  owners  on 
each  side  gave  eacli  tlie  half  of  the  road. 

Works  were  put  up  by  the  Holland  Company  for 
the  manufacture  of  salt,  at  the  salt  springs  north  of 
Medina,  as  early  as  1805,  and  opened  for  use  by  the 
settlers.     To  facilitate  access  to  these  works,  the  Com- 


OF  ORLEANS  COUNTY.  61 

pany  cut  out  two  roads,  about  the  same  time,  one 
leading  south  from  the  works,  to  the  "Old  Buffalo 
Road  ;"  the  other  south-easterly,  to  the  Oak  Orchard 
Road.  These  highways  were  known  as  the  Salt 
Works  Road.  AVhen  the  manufacture  of  salt  there 
was  discontinued,  the  Salt  Works  Road  was  dicontin- 
Tied. 

Frequentl}',  when  a  new  road  became  a  necessity, 
all  the  settlers  would  turn  out  with  their  teams,  and 
cut  out  the  trees,  and  clear  them  from  the  roadway, 
and  build  such  sluiceways  as  were  necessary  and  so 
make  a  highway  passable,  to  be  worked  up  w^hen  the 
roots  had  rotted  out  and  the  people  of  the  district 
had  got  able  to  do  so. 

Ab(Mit  th(^  year  1824,  the  people  along  the  Ridge 
Road  turned  out  on  the  4th  day  of  July  and  celebra- 
ted the  day,  l)y  cutting  out  a  highway  from  the  Ridge 
nortli  to  Waterport  which  is  now  the  road  leading 
from  Eagle  Harbor  to  Waterport, 

An  Act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed  April  2, 1827, 
appointing  John  P.  Patterson,  Almon  H.  Millerd  and 
Otis  Turner,  commissioners  to  locate  and  lay  out  a 
public  highway,  four  rods  wide,  leading  from  Roch- 
ester to  Lockport,  "  on,  or  near  the  banks  of  the  Erie 
Canal."  A  highway  was  located  and  laid  by  said 
commissioners,  Jesse  P.  Haines,  of  Lockport,  being 
the  surveyor,  pursuant  to  said  Act.  For  most  of  the 
way  said  liighway  was  laid  on  tin?  south  side  of  the 
Canal.  The  records  of  said  sui"v-ey  and  highway 
were  tiled  in  the  County  Clerk's  offices,  and  in  the 
several  towns  througli  which  it  passed,  and  the  road 
establishetl  Oct.  1,  1827.  The  law  required  the  com- 
missioners of  highways  in  the  several  towns,  to  open 
the  road  to  travel ;  and  it  was  done  b}^  them  along 
the  most  of  the  line  where  the  public  convenience  re- 
quired it.     Considerable  of  this  road  was  never  open- 


62  PIONEER  HISTORY 

ed,  and  the  franchise  was  suffered  to  be  lost  to  the 
public  by  non-user. 

This  was  known  as  the  State  Road.     Through  the 
village  of  Albion,  it  is  called  State  Street. 


CHAPTER  XL 


RAILROADS   IK  ORLEANS   COUNTY. 

3IecliDa  and  Darien — ^ledina  and  Lake  Ontario — Rochester,  Lockport 
and  Niagara  Falls. 


AY  5,  1834,  an  Act  of  tlie  Legislature  was 
passed  incorporating  the  Medina  and  Darien 
Railroad  Company,  to  construct  a  Railroad  ; 
and  the  road  was  built  from  Medina  to  Aliron,  in  Erie 
County,  twelve  or  fourteen  miles,  and  fitted  for  cars, 
to  be  drawn  by  horses.  It  went  into  operation  about 
1836.  After  a  short  trial,  it  was  found  to  be  an  un- 
profitable investment,  the  track  was  taken  up,  and 
the  road  discontinued. 

This  was  the  first  Railroad  incorporated  to  be  made 
in  this  county. 

Li  1836,  the  Medina  and  Ontario  Railroad  Company 
was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature,  to  construct  a 
Railroad  between  Medina  and  Lake  Ontario,  at  the 
mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek.  ISTothing  further  was 
ever  done  towards  ojoening  tliis  road. 

The  Rochester,  Lockport  and  Niagara  Falls  Rail- 
road Co.  was  organized  December  10, 1850.  It  passes 
through  the  county  near  the  Erie  Canal  on  the  south 
side.  This  road  has  since  been  consolidated  in  the 
New  York  Central  Railroad,  by  which  name  it  is 
now  knoAvn,  its  original  corporate  name  being  drop- 
ped. 

The  construction  of  this  Railroad  has  proved  of  im- 
mense benefit  to  Orleans  County. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


STATE   OP   EDUCATION. 

School  Houses — Description — Gaines  Academy — Other  Academics  and 
Schools. 


ETTLERS  on  the  Holland  Purchase  reverenced 
the  institutions  existing  in  New  England,  from 
wliicli  the  majority  of  them  came,  and  endeav- 
ored to  engraft  them  npon  their  social  organization  in 
tlieir  new  homes  in  the  woods.  Tliey  I)elieved  the 
safety  and  permanence  of  the  free  govennnent  of  ihoAr 
country  was  found  in  the  intelligence  of  the  people  ; 
and  among  tlieir  first  labors,  after  providing  shelter 
and  food  for  their  children,  was  the  building  of  school 
houses  and  furnishhig  instruction  there.  Before 
enough  families  liad  located  in  a  neighborhood  to 
erect  even  a  log  school  house  and  supply  it  with 
scholars,  it  was  not  uncommon  for  a  school  to  be 
opened  in  some  log  cabin,  where  a  family  resided. — 
All  the  children  in  the  neighborliood  came  in,  or  were 
brought  ux^on  the  backs  of  their  fathers  through  the 
pathless  forest,  when  the  weather  was  bad,  and  at- 
tended these  schools.  Scliool  houses  were  built,  and 
well  patronized,  before  school  districts  were  organized, 
and  parents  did  tlie  best  they  could  to  give  their 
children  the  elements  of  a  common  education,  at  least. 
Orleans  County  was  not  behind  any  part  of  the 
countiy  in  its  zeal  for  schools.  Tiie  earlier  school 
houses  were  made  of  logs,  much  after  the  same  pat- 
tern as  the  dweih'ng  places  of  th(^  people,  such  struc- 


OV  OKLKATS'S    (XH']VTY.  05 

tures  as  would  now  he  considered  extrenK^^ly  iincotu- 
fortable,  inconvenient  and  ill  adapted  to  the  })nri)08e 
for  wliicli  tlK\y  were  nuidr. 

They  were  badly  lighted,  badly  ventilated,  small, 
cold,  cheerless  and  dismal  places.  Every  internal  ai  - 
rangement  was  nncomfortabl*^  compared  with  school 
houses  now.     But  nobody  complained. ' 

After  a  few  years  this  state  of  things  improved.  Ai- 
population  increased,  and  wealth  began  to  accumu- 
late, better  accommodations  were  procured. 

The  people  of  the  town  of  Gaines,  living  along  tlieir 
beautiful  natural  Ridge  Road,  believed  trade  and 
business  for  the  county  must  center  there  ;  and  before 
the  county  buildings  were  located  at  Albion,  they  be- 
gan to  devise  projects  for  l)uilding  up  a  village  there, 
which  should  insure  to  them  the  full  benefit  of  the  lo- 
cation. They  had  several  stores,  and  mechanic  shops. 
They  established  a  printing  press,  and  published  the 
first  neAvsjiaper  in  the  county,  and  proposed  to  found 
an  Academy.  The  locatit)n  of  the  Court  House  at  Al 
bion  was  to  them  a  sad  disappointment,  they  did  not 
despair,  however,  but  established  their  Academy, 
which  was  incorporated  in  the  3'ear  1827,  This  was 
the  first  incorporated  literary  institution  in  Orleans 
County.  A  brick  building,  three  stories  high,  was 
erected  by  the  joint  efforts  of  the  school  district,  and 
the  friends  of  the  Academy  and  f(U'  some  years  it  was 
occupied  by  both  schools,  Tlie  Acadenn^  was  well 
patronized,  while  it  was  without  a  rival,  but  when 
Academies  were  erected  in  other  towns  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, Gaines  Academy  began  to  languish,  and  fi- 
nally ceased  to  exist  as  a  school.  The  building  wat? 
fitted  up  as  a  dwelling  house,  and  as  such  still  re- 
mains. Academies  wer«^  established  at  Albion  in 
1837,  at  Millville  in  1840,  at  Yates  in  1842,  at  Medina 
in  1849,  at  Holley  in  1850.  The  Phipps  Union  Semi- 
nary was  established  at  Albicm  abo'it  1888,  and  in- 


66  PIONEEll   illSTOKY 

corporated  by  the  Regents  of  the  University  in  1840. 
This  Seminary  is  a  boarding  and  day  school  for  the 
instruction  of  girls  only.  Its  course  of  study  includes 
all  the  solid  and  ornamental  branches  of  education 
usually  taught  in  the  best  schools  for  females  in  this 
country.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  institutions  of  the 
Idnd  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  has  sustained  a 
high  reputation. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


STATE   OP   RELIGIOX. 

Reli^ous  Feeling  among  the  People — Ministers  and  Missionaries — 
Meeting  House  in  Gaines — First  in  County — Building. 

ELIGION  was  not  forgotten  by  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Orleans  County,  and  amid  all  their 
hardships  and  difhculties,  they  never  omitted 
attending  to  the  public  worship  of  God.  For  some 
years  they  had  no  church  organizations,  or  settled 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  or  houses  built  expressly  for 
places  of  public  worship.  They  had  religious  meet- 
ings however  in  their  log  cabins,  sometimes  conduct- 
ed by  a  preacher,  sometimes  with  none.  As  soon  as 
school  houses  were  built,  they  held  their  meetings  in 
them.  Though  mau}^  of  the  settlers  were  members  of 
Baptist,  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  or  other  denomina- 
tions, in  the  old  States,  from  which  they  came,  here 
they  kept  up  no  denominational  distinction.  If  it 
was  announced  that  a  religious  meeting  was  to  be  held 
in  some  place,  everybody  for  miles  around  attended 
it,  never  stopping  to  inquire  to  what  denomination 
the  preacher  belonged.  Many  old  people  remember 
with  deep  emotion  some  of  those  solemn  seasons  of 
prayer  and  praise,  enjoyed  by  them  in  company  with 
all  those  who  loved  God  and  his  worship,  in  their 
neighborhood,  in  some  little  log  shanty  in  the  woods. 
As  the  first  settlement  of  the  county  began  on  the 
lake  shore  in  Carlton,  and  gradually  extended  along 
the  Ridge  Road,  so  religious  meetings  were  held  first 
in  Carlton. 


68  PIONEf:R   HISTORY 

About  the  year  1809,  Rev.  Mr.  Stei^le,  a  Methodist 
preacher,  came  over  from  Canada  and  visited  as  a 
missionary  tliose  settlers,  who  had  come  into  Carlton, 
and  preached  to  them  whenever  he  could  get  a  con- 
gregation together.  He  is  said  to  have  been  tlie  iirst 
preacher  of  any  denonunation.  He  was  soon  follow- 
ed b}^  Elders  Irons,  Butcher,  and  Carpenter,  Bax)tists; 
and  Puffer,  Hall,  Gregory,  and  others,  Methodists. 

Before  1820,  a  Baptist  church  was  formed  in  Gaines, 
a  Congregational  churcli  in  Barre,  another  in  Ridge- 
way,  and  from  that  time  forward,  the  people  united 
in  such  church  organizations  as  were  agreeable  to 
their  views  of  religious  truth  and  duty,  instead  of 
those  conmion  meetings  of  all,  which  prevailed  at  an 
earlier  day. 

In  the  year  1824,  a  company  of  citizens  of  Gfaines, 
viz:  Oliver  Booth,  2d,  Elisha  Mchols,  Elijah  D. 
Nichols,  James  Mather,  YanRensselaer  Hawkins, 
Elijah  Blount,  Jonathan  Blount,  Jr.,  Zelotes  Sheldon, 
John  J.  Walbridge,  Romeyii  Ostrander  and  Asahel 
Lee,  united  together  and  built  the  meeting  house  now 
standing  in  the  west  part  of  tlie  village,  '*  for  the  ben- 
ellt  of  the  Congregational  and  Baptist  Societies  in  the 
town  of  Gaines,  each  society  to  use  the  same  for  one- 
half  of  the  time  alternately.  When  not  occupied  by 
said  societies,  to  be  free  for  public  worship  for  any 
other  religious  society."  The  proprietors  sold  the 
slips  in  the  house,  and  gave  the  purchase  money,  af- 
ter paying  for  building  the  house,  to  aid  in  ])uilding 
Gaines  Academy. 

This  was  the  first  church  edifice  erected  in  Orleans 
County.  For  several  years  it  was  occupied  according 
to  the  intent  of  the  founders.  It  has  now  been  trans- 
ferred to  a  Methodist  society. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


BUKYING   C4UOUNDS. 

Mount  Albion  Cemetery — Boxwood  Cemetery — Hillside  Cemetery. 

URYING  places  for  the  dead  were  established 
ill  coiiveiiient  localities,  in  the  early  settlement 
of  Orleans  County.  One  of  the  oldest  of  these 
is  at  the  village  of  Gaines,  on  the  Ridge  Road.  Mr. 
Oliver  Booth,  who  owned  the  land,  gave  half  an  a(;re, 
on  condition  that  the  neighl)oring  inhabitants  would 
clear  off  tho  trees  with  which  it  was  covered,  which 
they  did. 

Tinder  tli(^  statute  in  such  Case  made,  many  of  these 
rural  old  burying  places  have  been  put  under  the  care 
of  Cemetery  Associations,  duly  incorporated  under 
the  general  law.  Others  have  been  vested  in  the 
towns  in  which  they  are  situated,  under  an  old  law, 
which  provided  that  burying  grounds,  which  before 
th<^n  had  horn  used  a  certain  length  of  time  l)y  the 
public,  should  be  so  vested. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  large  villages  however,  more 
extensiv(>  grounds  have  been  devoted  as  burial  places. 
The  most  considera])le  of  these  is  "Mount  Albiox 
Cemetehy,"  situate  two  miles  south-east  from  the  vil- 
lage of  Albion.  This  burying  place,  including  about 
twenty-five  iicres,  was  purchased  by  the  village  of  Al- 
bion, in  May.  1848,  for  $1,000.  It  was  then  an  un- 
broktm  forest.  The  natural  advantages  of  this  Ceme- 
tery, for  the  ])ur])osc;  designed,  can  scarcely  ha  equal- 


70  PIONEER   HISTORY 

eel  b}'  aiiY  similar  grounds  in  the  country.  It  was 
dedicatecl/Sept.  7,  1843. 

Before  Mount  Albion  was  purchased,  a  burying 
g  round  was  used  on  the  south  side  of  th(^  canal,  east 
of  the  creek,  in  Albion.  The  bodies  have  all  been  re  - 
moved  from  that  ground,  and  burying  there  discon- 
tinued. 

From  the  lirst,  and  until  1862,  Mount  Albion  Cem- 
etery was  under  the  care  of  the  Trustees  of  the  village. 
By  an  Act  passed  March  26,  1862,  the  control  of  the 
Cemeteiy  was  vested  in  three  commissioners,  to  be  ap- 
pomted  by  the  village  Trustees.  Dr.  Lemuel  C.  Paine, 
Lorenzo  Burrows  and  Henry  J.  Sickels,  were  aj^point- 
ed  such  commissioners,  and  they  have  been  ever  since 
continued  in  office.  Lots  in  this  Cemetery  are  sold  to 
whoever  will  buy,  the  purchasers  not  being  confined 
to  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Albion,  and  owners  of 
lots  reside  in  every  town  in  the  county. 

The  first  persons  dying  in  Medina,  were  buried 
wdierever  their  friends  could  find  a  place  ;  but  in  the 
fall  of  1830,  Mr.  David  E.  Evans,  by  his  agent  Mr. 
Gwynn,  gave  an  acre  of  land  for  a  burying  ground,  on 
the  east  side  of  Gwynn  Street,  south  from  the  railroad 
depot,  on  which  the  first  corpse  buried  was  the  wife  of 
Edmund  Fuller,  in  1830. 

These  grounds  have  been  used  for  bui'ials  ever  since. 
In  1860,  Mr.  John  Parsons  interested  himself  in  get- 
ting the  fences  around  these  grounds  repaired,  with 
contributions  furnished  him  for  the  purpose  ;  and  in 
order  suitably  to  mark  the  spot,  by  some  fitting  mem- 
orial, which  at  small  expense  would  be  likely  to  stand 
many  yi^ars ;  he  procured  and  planted,  as  near  as 
might  be,  in  the  center  of  the  grounds,  a  fir  tree,  un- 
der the  center  of  which,  in  a  glass  jar,  inclosed  in  lead, 
he  deposited  various  articles,  as  mementos  of  the  times 
and  people  of  Medina  at  present.  This  tree  is  now 
growing  vigorously. 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  71 

"Box^vooD  Cemetery"  lies  a  littlo  north  of  Medi- 
na, on  the  east  side  of  the  gravel  road  leading  to  the 
Ridge,  and  contains  about  six  acres,  and  is  owned  by 
the  village  of  Medina.  Messrs.  S.  M.  Burroughs, 
Geo.  Northroi^,  Caleb  Hill  and  others,  bought  this 
ground  while  a  forest,  of  Mr.  Gwynn,  for  a  Cemetery, 
in  1848.  They  sold  it  to  the  village  for  $600,  and 
it  was  laid  out  in  lots,  and  formally  opened  for 
burial  purposes,  in  1850.  David  Card  was  the  iirst 
person  buried  here,  in  1849. 

Many  bodies  of  the  dead  buried  in  the  old  ground 
in  Medina,  have  been  reniovt^d  to  Boxwood  Cemetery, 
and  this  is  now  the  principal  burying  jilace  for  the 
village  and  vicinity. 

"Hillside  Cemetery"  is  the  name  of  a  burying 
place  belonging  to  "The  Holby  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion," which  was  organized  Dec.  11,  1866.  In  Jan., 
1867,  the  association  purchased  about  seven  and  three- 
fourths  acres  of  land,  Ij^ing  about  half  a  mile  south  o" 
the  business  part  of  Holley  village,  and  south  of  the 
corporation  limits,  at  a  cost  of  $1 ,100.  A  large 
sum  has  since  then  been  expended  by  the  Association 
in  improving  these  grounds,  grading  the  street,  and 
ornamenting  and  fitting  up  the  premises. 

A  large  part  of  this  burying  place  has  been  laid  out 
in  lots,  carefully  numbered,  mapped  and  the  map  tiled 
in  the  County  Clerk's  office.  These  lots  are  sold  by 
the  Trustees  and  deeded  to  purchasers. 

August  17,  1867,  this  Cemetery  was  formally  dedi- 
cated b}"  appropriate  I'eligious  ceremonies. 

The  affairs  of  the  Association  are  managed  1)}'  nine 
Trustees,  who  serv(^  in  classes,  three  years.  Trustees 
now  in  office,  (1871,)  are  John  Beny,  Sargent  Ensign, 
Nelson  Hatcli,  James  Gibson,  Samuel  Spear,  Humph- 
rey Ruggles,  Simon  Ilarwood,  Ely  H.  Cook  and  Or- 
ange A.  Eddy.  John  B'.M'iy,  President,  Orange  A. 
Eddy,  Secretary. 


72  VIONKKK    IirSTOllY 

Shade  trees  liave  beeii  set  ai'oinid  the  grounds  and 
man}'  trees  and  ornamental  shrubs  planted. 

The  soil  is  ^vell  adai)ted  to  the  purpose  designed. — 
The  location  is  pleasant  and  commodious  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Holley  and  surrounding  country  and  the 
good  taste  and  liberality  displayed  by  the  people  of 
IloUey  and  vicinity  in  founding  and  fostering  tliis 
Cemetery  is  creditable  to  their  public  spirit,  refined 
feelings   and  proper  regard  for-  their  best  interests. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   TOWN   OF   BAllUE. 

First  settled  along  Oak  Orchard  Koad — Land  Givcu  by  the  Holland 
Company  to  Congregational  Societ}' — Congregational  Church — Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Albion — First  Tavern — First  Store — First  Law- 
yer— First  Doctor — First  Deed  of  Land  to  Settler — Deeds  of  Land  in 
Albion — First  House  in  Albion — Death  of  Mrs.  McCallister — First 
Warehouse — First  Saw  Mill — First  Grist  Mill — Trade  in  Lumber — 
First  Ball— First  Town  Meeting— Fourth  of  July,  1821— First  Wed- 
ding in  Albion — Story — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 


HIS  town,  so  named  by  Judge  John  Lee,  in 
honor  of  Barre,  Mass.,  his  native  town,  was 
V^  r  set  otF  from  (xaines,  by  Act  of  the  Legislature, 
March  C,  1818.  At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of 
this  tow^i,  the  main  road,  by  which  peojjle  traveled  to 
and  from  the  old  States,  was  the  Ridge  road.  The 
Ridgo  was  always  dry  and  comfortable  for  travel 
when  the  streams,  which  cross  it,  could  be  forded,  be- 
fore the  bridg(?s  were  made  ;  but  on  leaving  the  Ridg«? 
north  or  south,  wdien  th(^  ground  was  not  frozen,  the 
roads  were  terribly  muddy,  long  tracts  of  low  land 
requiring  to  be  covered  with  logs  laid  transversely 
side  by  side  for  a  carriage  track,  called  "  corduroy.'''' 
As  this  was  a  work  of  considerable  labor,  the  settlers 
had  to  wallow  through  the  mud  as  best  they  could, 
imtil  they  were  able  to  build  their  highways. 

There  were  no  sawmills,  and  even  if  there  had  been 
mills,  upon  such  roads  lumber  could  not  be  moved  to 
market,  and  there  was  no  market  for  lumber  south  of 
the  Ridge,  before  the  canal  was  dug. 

The  Indians  liad  a  trail,  or  Indian  road,  from  their 


74  PIONEER  IIIvSTORY 

settlements  in  Livingston  count}^  on  tlie  Genesee  riv- 
er, to  an  Indian  village  in  Niagara  county  ;  and  an- 
other trail  from  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  to 
intersect  the  first  mentioned  trail,  which  was  used  \iy 
white  men  and  known  as  the  Oak  Orcliard  Road, 
passing  through  Barre,  from  north  to  south.  On  this 
trail  or  road,  the  travel  to  Batavia  was  conducted. — 
It  was  not  passable  for  carriages,  as  the  Indians  had 
none,  and  the  settlers  had  to  clear  the  brush  and  re- 
move the  fallen  trees,  which  obstructed,  before  they 
could  get  their  teams  through.  This  was  done  by  the 
Holland  Company  at  an  early  day. 

Several  families  came  into  Barre  before  the  war  of 
1812,  but  that  event  nearly  suspended  emigration 
while  it  lasted. 

Salt  was  made  on  the  Oak  Orchard  Creek  north  of 
Medina,  before  the  canal  was  made  ;  and  to  accom- 
modate the  people  and  benefit  themselves,  the  Holland 
Company  opened  a  road  from  the  Salt  Works,  in  a 
south-easterly  direction,  to  intersect  thc^  Oak  Orchard 
Road,  about  two  miles  south  of  Albion.  This  was 
known  as  the  "  Salt  Works  Road"  and  was  discon- 
tinued many  years  ago. 

Among  the  inducements  offered  b}'  th(^  Land  Com- 
pany to  settlers  on  their  lands,  was  an  off'er  of  a  tract 
of  land,  to  the  first  religious  societ^y  that  should  be 
organized  in  each  town  on  their  Purchase.  In  pursu- 
ance of  this  custom,  the  Holland  Company  deeded, 
March  cS,  1822,  to  the  Trustees  of  "The  First  Congre- 
gational Society  in  the  town  of  Barre,"  one  hundred 
acres  of  land,  lying  on  the  north  part  of  lot  nineteen, 
town  fifteen,  range  two  ;  being  part  of  the  farm  after- 
wards cleared  and  owned  by  ^Izariah  Loveland. — 
The  deed  conveys  this  land  to  said  "Trustees  and 
their  successors  in  office,  for  the  benefit  of  the  said 
Congregational  order,  and  those  who  preacli  the  doc- 
trines contain(Ml  in  the  Assembly's  Catechism,  and  no 


OF  OFwLEAXS  COUNTY.  75 

other."  So  careful  were  our  fathers  in  Barre,  to  pro- 
vide for  keeping  their  religious  faith  pure,  and  free 
from  heresy,  as  they  regarded  it.  That  religious  so- 
ciety was  the  first  organized  in  Barre,  and  still  exists, 
now  located  at  Barre  Center.  Its  first  board  of  Trus- 
tees was  Orange  Starr,  Cyril  Wilson,  Ithamar  Hib- 
"bardjJohn  Bradner, Caleb  C.Thurston  and  Oliver  Ben- 
ton. The  church  connected  with  this  society,  was  or- 
ganized Dec.  o,  1817. 

"The  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Albion"  was 
incorporated  March  20,  1826,  and  was  the  second  re- 
ligious society  incorporated  in  the  town  of  Barre,  and 
the  first  in  the  village  of  Albion.  Its  first  Trustees 
were  Harvey  Goodrich,  Joseph  Hart,  Ebenezer  Rogers, 
William  White,  Hiram  Sickels,  and  Milton  W.  Hop- 
kins. Their  first  house  of  worsliip,  the  same  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Episcopalians,  was  erected  in  1830.— 
The  whole  number  of  communicants,  in  this  church 
at  its  organization,  was  sixteen.  Rev.AVm.  Johnson, 
their  first  pastor,  commenced  his  laboi'S  here  in  1824. 

The  first  tavern  in  Barre  was  kept  by  Abram  Mat- 
tison,  in  1815,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Oak  Orchard 
Road,  about  two  miles  south  of  Albion.     The  first 

tavern  in  Albion  was  kept  by Churchill,  on  the 

soutli  corner  of  ^Main  and  Canal  Streets.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Silas  Benton,  in  the  south 
part  of  what  is  now  tlie  village  of  Albion. 

The  first  store,  for  the  sale  of  dry  goods  and  grocer- 
ies, is  believed  to  have  been  kept  by  E.  &  A.  Mix,  at 
Porter's  Corners.  Mr.  Abiatliar  Mix  removed  to  that 
place,  and  took  an  Article  for  a  tract  of  land,  in  1817. 
Being  a  mason  by  trade,  and  having  no  mason  work 
to  do,  he  went  into  the  business  of  making  potash, 
and  selling  goods,  his  brother,  Ebenezer  Mix,  of  Ba- 
tavia,  furnishing  a  part  of  the  capital. 

About  the  year  1819,  a  store  was  opened  by  Orris 


76  I'lONEETw  IIISTOllY 

H.  Gardner,  near  Benton's  Corners,  on  tlie  Oak  Orch- 
ard Road. 

The  Oak  Orchard  Road  was  the  tirst  piil)lic  high- 
way hiid  ont  in  this  town.  About  1803,  the  Holland 
Company  caused  a  survey  to  be  made  of  this  road 
from  ''The  Five  Corners,"  in  Gaines,  about  a  mile 
north  of  Albion,  to  the  forks  of  the  road  south  of  Bar- 
re  Center.  Tliis  survey  was  due  nortli  and  south,  to 
straighten  the  old  trail.  The  highway  was  not  open- 
ed and  worked  precisely  as  laid. 

Many  of  the  earliest  locations  of  land  by  settlers 
were  made  along  this  road,  and  it  was  these  locations, 
this  highway  and  the  Erie  Canal,  which  established 
the  village  of  Albion. 

The  first  regular  lawyer  in  this  town  was  Theoplii- 
lus  Capen,  v/ho  came  here  about  the  time  work  on 
the  Canal  was  begun,  and  kept  an  office  for  a  while 
in  Albion.  William  J.  Moody  came  to  Albion  to 
practice  law,  a  short  time  before  the  county  of  Orleans 
was  organized,  he  was  followed  by  Alexis  AA'ard, 
Henry  R.  Curtis,  A.  Hyde  Cole,  Geo.  AV.  Fleming 
and  several  others. 

Dr.  Orson  Nichoson  was  the  first  physiciaiL  He 
settled  in  Barre  in  1819. 

The  first  deed  of  land  lying  in  the  town  of  Barre, 
from  the  Holland  Land  Company,  was  given  to  Jacob 
Young,  dated  June  7,  1813,  and  (conveyed  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  lot  thirty-tlir(M^,  town  fifteen,  range  one. 
This  land  is  now  owned  by  Stephen  N.  Whitney,  and 
lies  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  from  Albion,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Oak  Orchard  Road. 

William  Bradner  took  a  deed  from  the  Company, 
of  the  land  in  Albion,  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street, 
from  Bailey  Street,  to  the  north  bounds  of  Barre, 
December  3,  1819,  containing  two  liundred  and  sixty- 
six  acres.  Roswell  Burrows  took  a  like  d(^ed  of  on(5 
hundred  and  sixty-one  acn^s,  lying  on  the  west  side 


OF   ORLEANS    COl'NTT.  77 

of  Main  Street,  bounded  north  by  the  town  line  of 
Gaines,  October  11,  1825.  This  tract,  so  deeded  to 
Burrows,  was  taken  np  by  Article  from  the  Company 
by  Jesse  Bumpns,  in  August,  1815,  and  afterwards 
sold  by  him  to  Mr.  Burrows.  The  land  so  deeded  to 
AVilliam  Bradner,  was  taken  by  Article  from  the  Land 
Company,  by  William  McCollister,  about  the  year 
1811.  Mr.  McCollister  made  the  llrst  clearing  in  the 
village  of  Albion,  where  the  Court  House  now  stands, 
The  first  dwelling  house  erected  in  Albion  was  a  log 
cabin,  built  by  McCollister,  near  where  Phipps  Union 
Seminary  now  stands.  In  that  he  lived,  and  there  his 
wife  died,  about  the  year  1812  ;  being  the  first  white 
woman  who  died  in  the  town  of  Barre.  No  clergy- 
man was  then  in  town  to  conduct  religious  services 
on  the  occasion  and  no  boards  could  be  obtained  to 
make  her  coffin.  Her  sorrowing  husband,  assisted  by 
two  or  three  men,  split  and  hewed  some  rough  planks 
from  trees,  pinned  them  together  with  wooden  pins, 
to  make  a  box,  in  which  the  corpse  was  placed,  and 
buried,  this  little  company,  present  at  this  iirst  funer- 
al, comprised  almost  the  entire  pojndation  of  the 
town. 

The  first  warehouse  in  town  was  built  b}'  Nehemiah 
Ingersoll,  on  the  canal,  about  fifteen  rods  east  of  Main 
Street,  in  Albion. 

The  first  saw-mill  in  town  was  built  by  Dr.  Wm. 
AVliite,  on  the  creek  south-east  of  Albion,  about  eighty 
rods  south  of  the  railroad,  in  the  year  181(5.  AVilliam 
Bradner  built  a  small  grist-mill  on  this  creek,  farther 
down,  in  1819. 

For  several  years  after  the  Erie  Canal  was  first 
opened,  a  brisk  trade  in  white-wood  lumber  was  car- 
ried on,  from  timber  cut  convenient  to  draw  to  the  ca- 
nal. Good  whitewood  boards  sold  on  the  bank  of  the 
canal  for  $5  per  thousand  feet,  and  other  lumber  at 
corresponding  prices.     Whitewood   was    a  common 


78  PIONEEE   HISTORY 

tree  in  tliis  town.  The  lumber  was  carried  to  Albany. 
After  buildings  began  to  be  constructed  by  carpenters 
and  joiners,  the  Hoors  and  finishing  were  principally 
done  with  whitewood. 

The  first  regular  luill  in  Barre  was  at  Mattison's 
tavern,  July  4,  1819.  To  fit  the  house  for  the  party, 
they  took  up  the  split  basswood  floor  and  laid  down 
boards  in  the  bar-room  to  dance  on. 

The  first  town  meetings,  after  this  town  was  organ- 
ized, were  held  at  Mattison's  tavern,  the  next  after- 
wards at  Benton's  tavern. 

The  4th  of  July,  1821,  was  celebrated  by  the  peo- 
ple of  Barre  in  a  grove  near  where  "  the  round  school 
house"  was  afterwards  built,  on  Lee  Street.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  who  procured  the  necessary 
gunpowder,  liquor  and  sugar,  at  Batavia.  Provisions 
for  the  tables  were  furnished  by  voluntary  contribu- 
tion, and  a  dinner  gotten  up  which  was  partaken  of 
by  everybody  in.pic-nic  style.  Dr.  Orson  Nichoson 
delivered  an  oration  and  the  customary  patriotic 
toasts  were  drank,  to  the  sound  of  discharges  of  mus- 
ketry, as  they  had  no  cannon.  In  the  evening,  the 
remains  from  the  tables  and  the  bottles,  were  taken 
to  a  neighboring  log  cabin,  and  there  disposed  of  by 
all  who  chose  to  take  part ;  and  music  and  dancing, 
and  festivity,  were  kept  up  till  next  morning,  by  a 
company  of  old  and  young.  This  was  the  first  public 
celebration  of  our  National  Independence  in  Barre. 

Among  the  first  settlers  in  Barre  were  William  Mc- 
CoUister,  Lansing  Bailey,  Joseph  Hart,  Joseph  Stod- 
dard, Elijah  Darrow,  Reuben  Clark  and  Silas  Benton. 

Th(^  first  marriage,  in  what  is  now  the  village  of  Al- 
bion, took  place  under  the  following  circumstances. 
An  action  was  tried  before  Robert  Anderson,  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  at  the  village  of  Gaines,  to  recover  dam- 
ages for  a  hog  that  had  been  killed  by  the  defendant 
wrongfully.     The  plaintiif  recovered  a  judgment.    As 


OF   ORLEAXS   COUNTY.  79 

soon  as  the  result  was  declared,  the  defendant  took 
the  Justice  aside,  and  asked  him  to  go  at  once  to  a 
house  mentioned  and  many  him  ;  giving  as  his  reason 
for  haste,  that  execution  would  soon  be  issued  against 
him  on  the  judgment,  which  he  was  unable  to  -pay  ; 
that  he  would  be  taken  to  Batavia  to  iail,  and,  if  he 
was  a  single  man,  he  did  not  know  when  he  should 
get  out,  but  if  he  was  married  he  could  swear  out  in 
thirty  dn,js.  The  Justice  objected,  that  it  was  then 
midnight,  the  house  named  was  three  miles  oif,  the 
night  was  dark,  and  the  road  was  through  the  woods 
most  of  the  way.  He  finally  agreed  to  go  after  get- 
ting supper.  In  the  mean  time  the  would-be  bride- 
groom hurried  to  the  house  to  wake  up  the  family, 
and  the  bride,  and  put  a  light  in  the  window  to  guide 
the  Esquire.  The  marriage  took  place  according  to 
programme.  The  house  stood  on  the  west  side  of 
Main  Street,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the 
canal. 


BIOGRAPHIES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

latnsing  bailey. 

The  following  is  Lansing  Bailey"  s  history,  written 
by  himself,  for  the  Pioneer  Association  : 

' '  I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stephentown,  Rensse- 
laer County,  New  York,  Nov.  11,  1787. 

AVlien  I  was  seven  years  old,  my  father  removed  to 
Whitestown,  Oneida  County,  New  York. 

In  1800,  being  then  in  my  twenty-second  year,  I  was 
married  to  Miss  Loda  Parmelee,  and  in  Nov.  1811,  I 
started,  in  company  with  two  others,  for  the  Grenesee 
country,  on  foot,  with  knapsacks  and  provisions  on 
our  backs. 

On  the  evening  of  the  fifth  day,  we  arrived  at  Dan- 
iel Pratt's,  an  old  acquaintance  and  relative,  then  re- 


80  PIONEER  HISTORY 

siding  on  tlie  Ridge  Road,  in  the  town  of  Gaines,  a 
little  west  of  Gaines  Corners. 

The  best  locations  on  the  Ridge  Road  had  been  ta- 
ken, and  also  the  l)est  lots  on  the  Oak  Orchard  Road, 
for  several  miles  south  of  the  Ridge  Road,  but  they 
were  not  settled  south  of  the  'Five  Corners,'  in  what 
is  now  Gaines. 

Myselt  and  brother,  took  an  Article  from  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company,  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
lying  one  mile  west  of  where  Albion  now  stands. — • 
Five  da3^s  after  making  our  location,  we  started  for 
home  by  the  wa}'  of  Batavia.  We  had  but  little  mon- 
ey, consequently  we  bought  but  one  meal  on  our  out- 
ward and  homeward  trip,  $3.50  being  the  entire 
amount  of  our  expenses,  which  consisted  in  lodging 
and  a  little  of  '  the  creature'  to  w^ash  down  our  diy 
meals. 

In  February,  1812,  putting  all  on  board  an  ox  sled 
covered  with  cloth,  with  two  yoke  of  oxen  attached, 
after  bidding  farewell  to  friends,  with  wife  and  child 
aboard,  whip  in  hand,  we  set  out  for  our.  wilderness 
home,  my  brother  driving  two  cows,  and  three  3'oung 
cattle. 

After  a  journey  of  nine  days,  we  arrived  at  Daniel 
Pratt's,  wdiere  w^e  unloaded  our  goods,  and  I  soon 
started  to  find  some  wheat,  wiiicli  I  found  in  Riga, 
and  got  it  ground  in  Churchville. 

Soon  after  my  return,  myself  and  brother  set  out 
for  our  future  home. 

There  was  a  track  as  far  as  the  Five  Corners.  Thus 
far  we  took  a  grind  stone,  and  six  pail  kettle,  with 
some  other  articles,  were  tljen  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  our  place,  and  no  track.  The  snow^  was  about 
three  feet  deep,  with  a  hard  crust  about  two  feet  from 
the  ground,  sufficient  to  bear  a  man,  but  not  a  beast. 

We  commenced  breaking  the  crust  in  the  direction 
of  our  place,  and  drove  the  cattle  as  far  as  we  could 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  81 

break  that  day,  fell  some  trees  for  them  to  browse, 
and  one  across  the  path  to  keep  them  from  returning, 
and  we  went  back  to  the  Five  Corners  for  our  lodging. 

In  the  morning,  we  took  a  straw  bed  and  some  oth- 
er articles  on  our  backs,  and  went  and  found  the  cat- 
tle all  safe.  That  day  we  got  through  just  before 
night,  foddered  our  cattle  on  browse  ;  fell  a  dry  stub 
and  made  a  good  fire  from  it ;  shoveled  away  the 
snow,  made  us  a  bush  shanty  A\dth  some  boughs  to 
lay  our  bed  on,  took  supper  and  went  to  bed. 

Next  morning  the  snow  on  our  feet  and  limbs, 
which  were  a  little  too  long  for  our  shant}',  was  two 
or  three  inches  deej).  However,  we  had  a  good  nights 
rest.  We  staid  there  until  some  time  in  April,  going 
to  the  Ridge  every  Saturday  night,  and  returning  ev- 
ery Monday  morning,  with  a  weeks'  provisions. 

On  one  occasion  we  found  one  of  our  cows  cast. — 
We  divided  the  loaf  with  her,  put  a  bell  on  her,  and 
if  we  could  not  hear  the  tinkle  of  the  bell  in  the  night 
we  got  np  and  looked  after  her.  Thus  we  carried  our 
cattle  all  safe  through  the  winter. 

AVhen  we  went  to  the  Five  Corners  to  fetch  our  ket- 
tle, while  the  snow  crust  was  hard,  on  our  return,  our 
dog  barked  earnestly  at  a  large  hollow  tree,  that  had 
fallen  down.  On  looking  into  the  hollow,  we  saw 
two  eyes,  but  could  not  tell  what  animal  it  was  with- 
in. My  brother  went  after  an  ax  and  gun,  while  I 
watched  the  hole.  After  tilling  the  hollow  %^ith  sticks, 
we  cut  several  holes  in  tlie  log,  to  ascertain  the  char- 
acter of  the  animal.  Soon  however  she  passed  one  of 
the  holes,  and  we  knew  it  was  a  bear.  We  then  re- 
moved the  sticks,  and  put  in  the  dog.  The  bear 
seized  the  dog,  and  my  brother  reached  in  his  hand 
and  pulled  the  dog  out  badly  hurt.  The  bear  pre- 
sented her  head  at  the  hole,  and  I  killed  h<^r  with  the 
ax. 

On  searching  the  log,  we  found  a  cub,  which  we 


82  PIONEEK   HISTOKY 

took  liome  with  iis.     It  could  not  bite,  but  would  try. 

A  Mrs.  Adams,  wlio  liad  recently  lost  a  babe,  took 
it  and  nursed  it,  until  it  got  to  be  quite  a  bear,  and 
rather  harsh  in  its  manners. 

As  soon  as  the  snow  settled,  we  made  us  a  hovel 
house,  such  as  we  could  lay  up  ourselves  of  logs, 
twelve  by  fourteen  feet  square,  with  split  logs  for  floor 
and  roof,  the  roof  projecting  over,  to  aiford  a  shelter 
to  put  things  under,  outside  the  house. 

AVhen  the  snow  was  mostly  gone,  three  of  us  with 
ax  in  hand  went  through  on  a  line  as  near  as  we  could, 
cutting  out  the  under-brush  for  a  road,  coming  out  a 
little  west  of  where  Gaines  village  now  is,  on  the  Ridge 
road,  which  is  now  called  '  the  Gaines  Basin  road.' 
This  we  accomplished  in  less  than  half  a  day. 

In  a  few  days  we  liad  the  satisfaction  of  introducing 
Mrs.  Bailey,  my  wife,  into  our  new  house  and  were 
happy  to  get  home. 

Our  next  work  was  to  clear  ji  small  patch  and  sow 
some  apple  seeds,  carrying  dirt  in  a  tray  to  cover 
them  ;  from  those  seeds  originated  many  of  the  orch- 
ards in  Orleans  County. 

In  June  following  we  peeled  basswood  bark  for 
our  chamber  floor  and  elm  bark  for  a  roof  to  our 
house. 

Harvesting  came  and  we  went  to  Mr.  James  Math- 
er' s  in  Gaines,  to  reap  wlieat.  He  would  not  give  us 
one  bushel  of  wheat  per  day  for  our  work,  as  he  gave 
his  other  hands,  but  would  give  us  seven  bushels  for 
cutting  a  certain  j>iece,  which  we  did  in  two  days. — 
On  my  return  home  at  night  I  found  Mrs.  Bailey  had 
left  home,  where  she  had  gone  I  kn<nv  not  till  next 
morning  I  learned  she  had  been  sent  for  to  attend 
Mrs.  Daniel  Pratt,  who  was  sick  and  died  soon  after. 

We  cleared  fifteen  acres  the  first  season.  It  was  a 
task  in  time  of  logging  to  get  up  our  oxen  in  the 


OF  OELEAlSrS  COUNTY.  83 

morning,  especially  on  Mondays,  as  they  would  have 
Sundays  to  stray  away  into  the  woods. 

On  one  ocrasion  I  started  after  them  and  found 
their  tracks  near  where  Jonathan  Whitney  now  lives, 
on  the  Oak  Orchard  road,  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of 
Albion.  I  followed  the  tracks  eastward  all  day, 
crossing  the  Transit  Line  several  times.  I  could  tell 
that  line  by  the  timber  having  been  cut  on  it  by  the 
Holland  Company. 

After  a  hard  day' s  toil  and  travel,  making  a  good 
fire  I  camped  by  it  for  the  night  and  had  a  good 
night's  rest.  In  the  morning  I  heard  a  dog  bark  and 
a  bell  tinkle,  I  followed  in  the  direction  of  these 
sounds,  carefull}^  noting  where  I  left  the  cattle  tracks 
and  came  out  on  the  Ridge  road,  at  Huff's  tavern,  in 
East  Gaines  and  was  right  glad  to  get  something  to 
eat. 

Mr.  Rosier  was  there  returning  from  the  dangers  of 
the  war,  driving  some  cattle  and  mine  had  got  in 
with  them.  I  renewed  my  pursuit  and  found  my  ox- 
en about  two  miles  south  of  the  marsh,  which  lies 
south  of  tlie  Ridge,  in  East  Gaines  and  glad  was  I  to 
get  them  home  again. 

When  it  was  time  to  sow  our  wheat,  we  went  with- 
out bread  three  days  rather  than  leave  our  work  to 
go  to  mill.  I  have  been  to  Church ville,  Johnson's 
Creek,  Rochester  and  Salmon  Creek,  for  milling,  be- 
fore there  were  mills  built  nearer. 

In  the  fall,  I  built  me  a  good,  comfortable  log 
house,  without  a  board,  nail,  or  pane  of  glass  in  it, 
using  bark  for  roof  and  chamber  floor,  split  stuff  for 
gable  ends,  lower  floor  and  doors  and  oiled  paper 
for  windows,  being  compelled  to  exercise  strict  econ- 
omy and  also  to  be  quite  independent  in  building  my 
house.  I  found  it  however  a  good  shelter  and  a  com- 
foilable  home  for  several  years. 

Soon  after  I  moved  into  my  house,  my  brother  left 


84  PIONEER  HISTORY 

for  the  east,  leaving  me  in  care  of  seven  head  of  cattle 
to  cany  through  the  winter,  with  no  fodder  except  a 
few  cornstalks.  Winter  set  in  early  and  by  the  time 
I  had  killed  my  winter's  supply  of  venison,  the  corn- 
stalks were  all  gone  and  I  found  all  I  could  do  to 
keep  fires  ViW^ fodder  my  cattle,  Sundays  not  except- 
ed. 

Thus  I  labored,  cutting  trees  for  the  cattle  as  best 
I  could,  until  my  brother' s  return,  the  latter  j)art  of 
winter.  We  should  not  have  attempted  to  winter  our 
cattle,  had  not  persons  liere  assured  us  our  cattle 
would  winter  with  little  or  no  care. 

In  June,  1812,  the  town  of  Ridgeway  was  set  off 
from  Bataviti,  which  before  then  comprised  the  whole 
present  county  of  Orleans.  In  April,  1813,  the  first 
town  meeting  was  held  on  the  Ridge  road,  west  of 
Oak  Orchard  Creek.  At  that  time,  the  flats  along 
the  creek  were  covered  with  water  from  bank  to  bank. 
In  going  to  the  town  meeting,  we,  who  lived  east, 
crossed  the  creek  as  best  we  could,  on  rafts  of  felled 
trees. 

At  that  election  I  was  chosen  one  of  the  assessors 
for  the  east  part  of  the  town.  On  the  day  appointed 
for  holding  the  general  election,  I  started  for  Mr. 
Brown' s,  on  Johnson  s  Creek,  where  we  were  to  open 
the  polls.  When  I  came  to  the  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
I  put  off  my  clothes  and  went  through.  On  opening 
the  polls,  the  board  were  challenged  by  Paul  Brown, 
as  not  being  free-holders  ;  true  we  were  not,  but  we 
did  not  regard  it.  We  adjourned  at  noon  to  Mr.  El- 
licott's,  at  Barnegat,  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Shelby  and  next  day  to  Ridgeway  Corners  and  from 
thence  to  Gaines  Corners,  where  we  closed. 

The  above  journey  was  performed  b}-  the  Board  of 
Inspectors  of  the  Election  on  foot.  I  do  not  think 
there  was  a  horse  in  town  at  that  time. 

Thus  far  all  had  passed  off  pleasantly,  soon  after, 


OF  OKLEANS   COUNTY.  85 

however,  I  was  taken  sick  with  the  fever  and  ague, 
which  was  so  severe  as  to  confine  me  to  the  house. — 
Dr.  Wm.  White  was  called  to  attend  me.  He  came, 
said  he  could  give  me  something  that  would  stop  it, 
but  would  not  advise  me  to  take  it.  I  replied  I  would 
take  it  on  my  own  responsibility.  He  gave  me  arse- 
nic. I  took  it.  It  stopped  the  ague,  but  I  did  not 
get  well  for  a  long  time. 

On  the  3d  of  Ma}',  1813,  my  wife  was  confined.  My 
brother  went  to  Five  Corners  for  assistance,  and  when 
he  returned  with  one  of  the  neighboring  women,  they 
found  me  on  one  bed,  my  wife  and  one  babe  on  an- 
other bed,  and  another  babe  on  a  pillow,  on  a  chair, 
all  right  and  doing  well.  I  thought  the  woods  was  a 
fruitful  place. 

I  made  a  cradle  from  a  hollow  log,  long  enough  to  • 
hold  one  baby  in  each  end,  and  being  round,  it  need- 
ed no  rockers,  and  served  our  purpose  nicely. 

In  July  after,  I  called  upon  my  neighbors,  some  of 
whom  lived  several  miles  from  me,  to  help  me  put  up 
a  log  barn.  Some  fifteen  came.  We  found  we  could 
not  get  through  in  season  for  them  to  get  home  that 
day  and  rather  than  come  again,  they  finished  it, 
though  it  got  to  be  late  before  it  was  done  and  they 
all  staid  over  night,  on  beds  spread  on  the  floor,  pio 
neer  fashion. 

About  this  time,  in  1813,  one  morning  while  we 
were  at  breakfast,  a  man  came  in  from  the  Eidge  and 
said  the  British  had  landed  from  the  lake  at  the  mouth 
of  Oak  Orchard  Creek  and  would  probably  come  up 
to  the  Ridge,  if  not  repulsed.  AVe  were  well  armed. 
My  brother  took  the  rifle  and  started  on  quick  time. 
I  could  not  go  as  fast  as  they,  but  followed  on  as  fast 
as  my  strength  would  admit,  I  soon  reached  the 
Ridge  road  and  was  glad  to  learn  there  was  no  dan- 
ger. The  enemy  only  wanted  to  steal  some  of  Mr. 
Brown' s  cattle,  from  near  the  Two  Bridges,  in  Carlton. 


86  PIONEER   HISTORY 

After  I  left  home  on  this  military  expedition  Mr. 
Farr  and  Mr.  Holsenburgh  came  to  chop  for  me. — 
They  left  their  homes  before  the  news  came.  We  re- 
turned about  4  o'clock  afternoon  the  same  day.  Mr. 
Darrow  came  with  us  to  get  a  pig.  With  some  diffi- 
culty the  men  chopping  could  see  my  cabin  from 
where  they  were  at  work.  My  brother,  as  we  came 
near,  gave  a  loud  whoop,  like  an  Indian.  I  stopped 
him.  He  then  blew  a  blast  on  a  tin  horn  he  had.  I 
stopjied  him  again,  saying  supper  was  not  ready.  I 
then  threw  my  frock  over  my  shoulders  and  went  to 
the  pen  to  catch  the  pig.  Farr  and  Holsenburgh 
heard  the  whoop  and  the  horn  and  saw  me  going  to 
the  pen  and  mistook  my  frock  for  the  blanket  of  an 
Indian  ;  and  hearing  the  pig  squeal  soon  after,  they 
concluded  the  Indians  had  come  and  killed  my  fam- 
ily and  were  going  to  linish  with  a  feast  from  the 
pigs ;  and  they  started  for  their  homes  to  get  their 
guns  to  fight  the  Indians.  Mr.  Farr  then  lived  at  the 
Five  Corners  in  Gaines  and  Mr.  Holsenburgh,  on  the 
place  afterwards  owned  by  Ebenezer  Rogers,  a  mile 
south  of  Albion. 

Mr.  Farr  hurried  home,  got  his  gun  and  was  ready 
for  a  fight.  Mv.  Chaffee,  on  hearing  the  story,  told 
Mr.  Farr  it  could  not  be  true,  as  there  were  no  Indians 
landed  and  he  saw  us  when  we  started  for  home. 

Holsenburgh  w(^nt  diiectly  to  Mr.  Harrow' s,  before 
any  of  the  party  had  got  ])ack,  told  what  had  happen- 
ed at  my  house,  said  Mrs.  Darrow  and  Mrs.  Hart  and 
their  families  must  hide  in  the  woods,  as  the  Indians 
would  soon  be  there  and  actually  got  th<'m  started. 
The  men  returned  however  in  time  to  stop  them. 

While  tlie  above  was  being  performed,  we  could 
hear  no  sound  from  the  axes,  and  knew  not  the  reason 
until  near  sunset,  when  Mr.  Farr  came  and  explained 
the  whole  transaction. 

About  tlie  first  of  August,  my  brother  was  taken 


OF    OKLEANS    COUNTY.  87 

with  fever  and  ague.  Some  one  told  liim  of  a  remedy. 
He  tried  it,  a  violent  fever  ensued,  which  lasted  but  a 
few  days,  and  he  died,  August  8th.  Before  my  broth- 
er was  buried,  ni}^  wife  was  taken  sick  with  the  same 
fever  and  died  on  the  13th  of  the  same  month.  They 
were  both  in  succession  carried  by  friends  to  the 
burying  ground  in  Claines,  and  interred  there.  Some 
friends  living  on  the  Ridge  took  my  children  home 
with  them,  while  I  returned  to  my  desolate  house  to 
spend  one  of  the  loneliest  nights  I  ever  knew,  as  there 
was  no  one  to  accompanj^  me  home. 

I  informed  my  father  of  wliat  had  transpired.  He 
soon  came  and  took  two  of  my  children  home  with 
him.  I  hired  a  Mrs.  Adams,  a  cousin  of  mine,  to  take 
care  of  the  other. 

I  was  now  so  lonely  that  as  soon  as  I  could  secure 
my  crops,  I  left  home  and  went  to  my  father's. 

In  the  fall  before  leaving,  Mr.  Parmelee,  a  brother- 
in-law  came  with  a  wagon  to  help  secure  my  corn, 
which  we  had  planted  among  the  logs.  I  did  but  lit- 
tle work  that  season,  not  logging  one  acre. 

On  going  into  m}^  corntield  we  found  it  badly  torn 
down.  We  got  a  dog,  and  lantern  in  hand  went  at 
night  to  the  field.  The  dog  started  off  furiously  and 
soon  treed  some  animal  up  a  large  hemlock.  On 
looking  up  I  could  at  times  see  eyes  shine.  We  con- 
cluded it  was  a  bear,  and  each  one  selecting  a  small 
tree  to  climb,  in  case  the  bear  should  come  down  and 
attack  us,  I  went  to  try  my  skill  in  shooting  in  the 
darkness.  Soon  as  I  tired  there  was  a  screeching  u]) 
the  tree,  '{'h*'  creature  must  have  gone  nearly  to  tlie 
top  of  the  tr(^e.  Directly  tliere  was  a  cracking  heard 
among  the  limbs,  I  scrambled  up  m^^  ti-ee,  and  the 
bear  came  down  from  hers. 

No  sooner  liad  she  struck  the  ground  than  the  dog 
gnii)plcd  in  witli  lier,  but  s(K)n  cried  out  piteously. — 
We  thought  tjie  dog  was  beino;  killed.     I  hastened 


88  PIONEER  HISTORY 

down  from  my  tree,  called  for  the  light  to  see  to  load 
my  gun.  AVe  walked  up  to  the  combatants  and  found 
the  dog  biting  instead  of  being  bitten.  Parmelee  said 
he  did  not  climb  his  tree.  He  had  some  sport  after- 
wards telling  how  he  had  saved  my  life  by  holding 
the  lantern  so  that  I  could  see  and  not  climb  off  at 
the  top  of  the  tree. 

Before  my  return  to  the  east,  Mr.  Caleb  C.  Thurs- 
ton came  to  view  the  country,  said  he  would  move  in- 
to my  house,  if  I  would  driv^e  my  oxen  down  and  help 
liim  up,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  buy  another  yoke,  and 
would  hire  me  to  clear  five  acres  when  he  bought  a 
lot ;  to  this  I  consented. 

In  the  winter  of  1814,  Mr.  Thurston  moved  on  with 
oxen  and  wagon.  While  gone  to  my  father's,  Lewis- 
ton  and  Buffalo  were  burned  and  Capt.  McCarty, 
with  a  part  of  the  Company  to  whicli  I  belonged, 
went  as  far  as  Mol3'neaux  tavern,  where  they  sur- 
rounded the  house,  shooting  one  Indian  through  the 
window.  Finding  another  helpless  on  the  floor  drunkj  • 
a  Mr.  Cass  pinned  him  to  tlie  floor  with  his  bayonet. 
The  British  soldiers  ran  up  stairs  and  were  taken 
prisoners.  Mr.  Molyneaux  said  he  would  And  rails 
as  long  as  they  w^ould  And  Indians,  and  they  burned 
the  bodies  of  the  killed. 

In  the  summer  following,  I  took  my  oxen  and  wag- 
on and  seventeen  bushels  of  wheat,  with  Mrs.  Thurs- 
ton on  the  load,  for  a  visit  to  Mr.  Pratt"  s  and  went  to 
mill  beyond  Clarkson.  I  returned  as  far  as  Mr. 
Pratt's  the  next  night  about  dark.  I  asked  Mrs. 
Thurston  if  she  would  venture  througli  the  woods  with 
me.  She  said  she  would  and  if  we  had  to  lay  out, 
we  would  do  the  best  we  could. 

When  Ave  left  the  Ridge  and  turned  into  the  woods, 
it  was  so  dark  I  could  not  see  my  oxen,  although  I 
was  sitting  on  the  foreboard.  We  arrived  safe  home, 
without  accident. 


OF  OKLEANS   COUNTY.  89 

I  think  it  would  be  difficult  in  these  daj's  to  find 
women  of  sufficient  fortitude  to  endure  such  hard- 
ships and  privations,  as  did  these  early  pioneer 
women. 

At  this  time  there  was  no  clearing  between  my 
place  and  the  Ridge  road. 

The  war  with  Great  Britain  was  now  raging  along 
our  frontiers,  in  all  its  horrors.  More  settlers  were 
then  leaving  the  country  than  were  coming  in.  There 
were  then  but  five  families  in  what  was  then  called 
Freeman's  settlement,  west  of  Eagle  Harbor.  No 
road  had  been  opened.  We  had  to  follow  marked 
trees  as  our  guide. 

Mr.  Thurston's  eldest  daughter,  then  about  ten 
years  old,  went  to  stay  with  our  friends  there  a  few 
days.  She  was  taken  sick  and  not  able  to  walk 
home.  Her  father  [ind  myself  went  after  her  and  car- 
ried her  back  to  her  father' s  house,  the  most  of  the 
distance  on  our  backs.  It  was  a  hard  lift  for  us  to  get 
her  up  the  bank  of  Otter  Creek. 

The  first  of  September,  our  militia  company  was  or- 
dered to  Buffalo.  On  the  fifth  we  reached  Batavia. — 
Mr.  Thurston  being  infirm,  was  allowed  to  return  to 
his  family  in  their  solitude.  I  was  kept  with  the 
Company,  until  the  first  of  October,  when  I  was  dis- 
charged and  returned  home,  having  received  seven 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  pay  for  services  and  two  dol- 
lars for  extra  labor. 

I  lodged  the  first  niglit  on  my  return  with  the  Ton- 
awanda  Indians.  I  have  never  since  turned  an  Indian 
away,  who  desired  to  stay  with  me  over  niglit. 

Before  I  left  home  to  go  to  Buff'alo,  as  a  soldier,  I 
had  baited  some  j)igeons.  After  we  were  gone,  Mrs. 
Thurston  took  the  net  and  caught  them  and  in  this 
way  herself  and  children  were  provided  with  a  rich 
repast,  although  so. far  oft' in  the  wilderness  alone. 

In  the  winter  of  1815,  with  my  pack  on  my  back,  I 


90  PIO^TEER   HII^TOKY 

returned  to  Wliitestown,  and  on  tlic^  8th  day  of  Feb- 
ruaiy,  was  married  to  Miss  Sylvia  Pratt,  wlio  return- 
ed Avitli  me  to  sliare  alike  the  toils  and  blessings  of 
life,  where,   b}^  the  blessing  of  God,  we  still  remain. 

I  have  had  twelve  children  ;  three  died  young,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  sitting  down  with  all  the  others  at 
my  own  table,  the  present  summer,  (1861)  although 
some  of  them  reside  eight  hundred  miles  away  from 
me. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  settlers  came  in  rapidly 
and  soon  I  was  out  of  the  woods,  having  it  cleared 
and  settled  all  around  me. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  raise  pigs,  as  the  bears  would  catch  them  in 
the  summer.  Consequently,  pork  was  high  priced, 
and  scarce.  With  my  riile,  I  could  take  what  veni- 
son I  needed,  and  therefore  fared  well  for  meat.  The 
oil  of  the  raccoon  was  first  rate  for  frying  cakes. — 
Thus  we  fared  sumptuousl}'. 

At  one  time,  I  had  a  sow  and  pigs  in  the  woods. — 
One  day  I  heard  the  sow  squeal.  Being  nearer  to 
them  than  to  the  house,  I  ran,  supposing  I  could  save 
lier.  As  I  came  near  and  hallooed,  bruin  dropped  his 
prey  and  reared  up  on  his  hind  legs,  wlien  he  saw 
me  he  ran  off,  but  he  had  killed  the  hog.  I  got  my 
rifle  and  pursued,  but  saw  no  more  of  him. 

In  the  summer  of  181G,  I  heard  a  man's  voice  hal- 
looing in  the  woods  south  of  my  house.  I  went  to  see 
what  was  going  on.  Saw  several  men  there  and  in- 
quired what  they  were  about.  One  of  them  said 
they  were  going  to  make  us  a  canal.  I  laughed  at 
them,  and  told  them  they  would  hardly  make  water 
run  up  hill  between  here  and  Albany.  I  added,  it 
would  be  as  long  as  I  would  ask  to  live,  to  be  able  to 
see  such  a  canal  as  they  talked  of  in  operation.  How 
litth^  did  I  then  know  of  what  men  could  perform, 
aided  by  intellectual  culture  and  public  wealth,  hav- 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  91 

ing  lip  to  that  time  spent  most  of  my  life  in  the  woods. 
Before  this  we  had  to  go  to  Batavia  for  our  merchants 
goods  and  to  tlie  Post-office. 

The  foregoing  comprises  what  I  think  of  now  of  my 
pioneer  life. 

I  cannot  look  "back  npon  the  past  of  my  life  and 
contemplate  what  the  good  Lord  has  in  his  loving 
kindness  done  for  me,  without  acknowledging  his 
preserving  care,  and  that  too  when  the  most  of  my 
days  have  been  spent  in  rebellion  against  him,  in  not 
obeying  his  commands  and  in  neglecting  to  acknowl- 
edge liim  under  the  sore  afflictions  he  has  seen  tit  to 
bring  upon  me  and  to  sustain  me  under  them  ;  and 
above  all,  that  in  after  life,  He  by  his  good  spirit 
should  call  after  me,  until  I  was  brought  to  see  and 
feel  his  goodness,  in  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins  and 
to  thank  and  praise  him  for  all  his  mercies  and  to 
ask  that  I  may  be  accepted  by  him  through  the 
merits  of  his  Son,  and  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
in  his  kingdom  above,  with  all  the  old  pioneers,  not 
of  the  Avoods  only,  but  all  those  that  are  seeking  a 
better  and  a  lieavenly  country. 

LANSING  BAILEY." 

Dated— Barrc,  August  1,  18G1. 

Mr.  Lansing  Bailey,  the  author  of  the  foregoing 
sketch,  died  at  his  residence  in  Barre,  December  1866, 
aged  79  years.  Many  years  before  his  death  he  sold 
out  the  land  he  took  up  from  the  Holland  Company 
and  bought  the  north-east  part  of  lot  10,  town  15, 
range  2,  of  the  Holland  Purchase,  on  which  he  ever 
after  resided,  and  which  is  now  occupied  and  owned 
by  his  son,  Timothy  C.  Bailey. 

Lansing  Bailey  was  a  man  of  strong,  native  good 
sense,  who  always  stood  liigli  in  the  estimation  of  all 
who  knew  him,  highest  with  those  who  knew  him  best. 
He  used  to  say  when  he  left  his  father's  house,  his 
father  gave  him  a  hoe  and  three  slieep,  and  he  thought 


92  *  PIONEER   IIISTOKY 

Ms  father  did  as  well  by  liirn  as  lie  was  able,  as  lie 
not  only  gave  him  a  hoe,  bnt  taught  him  to  dig,  for 
which  he  always  felt  grateful. 

Mr,  Bailey  was  always  industrious  and  frugal  and 
by  a  life  of  economy  and  prudence,  acquired  a 
handsome  property.  He  was  liberal  and  public 
spirited  in  his  character,  almost  always  holding  some 
public  office  or  trust.  He  was  for  many  years  Super- 
visor of  the  town  of  Barre  and  was  relieved  from  that 
office  only  after  he  had  peremtorily  declined  being 
a  candidate,  against  the  wishes  of  a  large  majority  in 
his  town. 

GIDEON  IIAKI). 

Hon.  Gideon  Hard  was  born  in  Arlington,  Vermont, 
A23ril  29,  1797.  His  grand-mother  was  sister  of  Col. 
Seth  AVarner,  celebrated  in  the  history  of  the  Kevo- 
lutionary  war  for  his  services  in  taking  Ticonderoga, 
and  in  the  battle  of  Bennington.  In  his  youth  he 
labored  first  upon  a  farm,  afterwards  with  an  older 
brother  at  the  trade  of  house  joiner  for  two  years. 

About  this  time  he  resolved  to  obtain  a  college 
education.  Being  poor  and  dependent  mainly  on  his 
own  exertions,  like  many  other  New  Englaiid  boys, 
he  tauglit  school  in  the  winter  seasons  and  studic^d  the 
remaindei;  of  the  time,  until  he  succeeded  in  passing 
through  Union  College  at  S(;henectady,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  first  degree  in  July,  1822.  In  the  autumn 
of  that  year  he  commenced  studying  law  with  Hon. 
John  L.  Wendell,  then  of  Cambridge,  Washington 
county,  since  law  reporter  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  of  New  York. 

The  rules  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  that  tinu^  re- 
quired three  years  of  law  study  previous  to  admission 
to  practice.  B}'  the  aid  of  his  friend  and  teacher,  J.L. 
Wendell,  lu?  was  allowed  to  take  his  examination  at 
the  May  Tei-m  of  the  Court  1825,  and  was  then  ad- 
mitted attorney  in  the  Supreme  Court. 


^cc^^^--^^^   Wa^(^ 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  93 

In  March,  1826,  lie  settled  to  practice  his  profession 
in  Newport,  now  Albion,  but  did  not  move  his  wife  to 
liis  new  home  until  July  of  the  same  year. 

He  opened  his  ofRce  and  began  his  practice. 

In  1827  he  was  elected  Commissioner  of  Schools  for 
Barre  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed County  Treasurer,  an  office  he  held  six  years. 
In  1832  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress 
from  the  district  comprising  Orleans  and  Niagara 
counties,  and  took  his  seat  in  Congress  in  Dec.  1833, 
during  the  first  year  of  President  Jackson's  adminis- 
tration, in  political  classification  being  ranked  as  a 
Whig.  In  1834  he  was  re-elected  to  Congress,  and  dur- 
ing the  long  session  of  1836  he  served  on  the  committee 
on  elections.  The  case  ot  James  Graham,  a  member 
from  North  Carolina,  whose  seat  was  contested,  came 
before  that  committee,  where  after  a  lengthy  examin- 
ation a  majority  of  the  committee  reported  in  favor  of 
the  contestant.  General  Newland. 

Mr.  Hard  drafted  a  counter  report  of  the  minority 
in  favor  of  Graham,  which  he  presented  and  advo- 
cated in  a  personal  efi'ort  before  the  House.  He  was 
sustained  by  the  vote  of  the  House.  This  result,  in  a 
body  where  he  was  largely  in  the  minority,  on  a 
question  which  was  decided  mainly  on  party  grounds 
and  by  his  political  opponents,  was  highly  gratifying 
to  his  political  friends  and  party  and  fiattering  to  his 
ambition. 

On  the  4th  of  March  1837,  he  left  Congress  and  re- 
turned to  Albion  to  practice  his  ])rofession. 

In  1841  he  was  elected  Senator  in  the  State  Senate 
to  represent  the  eighth  district  of  New  York,  and  was 
the  only  Whig  Senator  elected  in  the  State  that  year. 
The  Senate  of  the  State  at  that  time  constituted  the 
Court  for  the  Correction  of  Errors,  of  which  Court  he 
thus  became  a  member. 

The  business  of  the   Court   consisted   in   revicAdns: 


94  PIONEER  HISTORY 

the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  Court  of 
Chancery,  which  might  be  brought  before  them  on 
appeal.  ,  Tlie  Court  held  three  terms  of  four  weeks 
each  annually. 

As  the  Senate  was  composed  largely  of  civilians, 
who  in  the  decision  of  cases  which  came  before  them 
while  sitting  as  a  court  of  law,  did  little  more  then 
vote  upon  the  final  questions,  the  main  labor  of  the 
Court  fell  upon  the  members  who  were  lawyers,  in 
investigating  the  questions  of  law  presented,  and 
writing  out  the  opinions  that  were  given. 

Mr.  Hard  took  his  share  of  this  labor,  thoroughly 
examining  the  causes  in  the  Court  and  writing  out 
his  opinions  in  support  of  the  conclusions  to  which 
he  arrived,  mau}^  of  which  are  published  in  the  Law 
Reports  of  the  State. 

In  1845  he  w^as  re-elected  to  the  State  Senate  and 
appointed  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Railroads. 

In  1848  his  office  as  Senator  having  terminated  by 
the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  of  the  State, 
which  abolished  the  old  Senate  and  Court  for  Correc- 
tion of  Errors,  Mr.  Hard  was  appointed  a  Canal  Ap- 
praiser, which  office  he  held  two  years,  and  in  18.50 
returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  the  fall 
of  1856,  when  he  was  elected  County  Judge  and  Sur- 
rogate of  Orleans  county,  which  office  he  held  four 
years. 

The  year  1860  he  was  in  ill  health  and  did  little 
business.  The  next  three  years  he  spent  mainly  in 
attendance  upon  his  sick  wife.  She  died,  an  event 
which  broke  up  his  family,  and  since  then  he  has  re- 
sided most  of  the  time  with  his  children  engag(^d  in 
no  business. 

Mr.  Hard  married  Adeline  Burrell,  of  Hoosi(^  Falls 
New  York,  in  August,  1824. 

They  had  two  children,  Samuel  B.  Hard,  a  lawyer 
and  business  man  residing  in  the  city   of  New  York, 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  95 

and  Helen  B.  who  married  Geo.  II.  Potts,  and  resides 
in  New  York  also. 

Mrs.  Hard  died  at  Albion  Sept.  15,  1864. 

EBENEZEE    ROGERS. 

Dea.  Ebenezer  Rogers  was  born  in  Norwicli  Conn., 
October  3,  1769.  He  married  Betsey  Lyman  of  Leba- 
non, Connecticut,  who  died  August  28,  1849.  Mr. 
Rogers  removed  from  New  England  to  Onondaga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1812,  and  in  March,  1816,  settled  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  afterwards  resided  in  the  south  part 
of  the  village  of  Albion.  When  he  came,  not  more 
than  twenty  families  had  settled  in  Barre  and  his 
house  was  a  home  for  many  of  the  young  men,  who 
came  here  to  select  a  farm  for  themselves,  or,  who, 
having  a  lot,  were  clearing  it  and  building  a  cabin, 
preparatory  to  occupying  with  their  families. 

Being  a  professor  of  religion  and  deeply  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  that  subject,  he  was  among 
the  most  earnest  of  the  settlers  in  introducing  the 
stated  observance  of  the  forms  of  public  worship 
among  them  ;  and  with  his  near  neighbor,  Joseph 
Hart  and  others,  he  assisted  to  form  the  first  Congre- 
gational Church  and  Society  in  Barre,  which  finally 
was  established  at  Barre  Center,  and  after  Albion 
became  a  village,  he  was  conspicuous  in  organizing 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  Society  in  Albion, 
which  was  an  oftshoot  from  the  organization  first  de- 
scribed. Of  the  latter  church,  Mr.  Rogers  was  a  long 
time  deacon,  and  a  ruling  elder. 

He  was  by  trade  a  tanner  and  shoemaker,  but  nev- 
er followed  that  business. 

Of  a  strong  physical  constitution,  Mr.  Rogers  lived 
to  see  his  children  settled  around  him  in  competence, 
enjoying  the  abundance  of  the  good  things  of  this 
good  land,  which  he  and  his  worthy  compeers 
had  done  so  much  to  reclaim  from  the  wilderness  of 


96  PIONEER  HISTORY 

nature.     Mr.    Rogers  died  January  28,   1865,   aged 
ninety-six  years,  three  months  and  twenty-five  days. 

ASA   SANFOKD. 

"  I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Farmington,  Hartford 
Co.,  Conn.,  June  2, 1797.  My  parents  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  gave  their  children  a 
strictly  religious,  as  well  as  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, as  was  the  custom  in  New  England.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1806,  my  father  removed  with  his  family,  then 
consisting  of  wife,  foui-  sons  and  two  daughters,  to 
Candor,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  journe}^  of  about  three 
hundred  miles. 

My  father,  oldest  brother  and  myself,  performed 
this  journey,  with  a  pair  of  oxen  and  one  horse,  at- 
tached to  a  sled,  being  twelve  days  on  the  road. 

A  hired  man  brought  my  mother  and  her  other 
children  in  a  sleigh. 

That  country  was  then  wild,  with  but  few  settlers 
scattered  along  the  Susquehanna  and  Chemung  riv- 
ers, with  dense  forests  stretching  back  thirty  miles 
without  a  human  being,  inhabited  by  bears,  wolves, 
panthers,  deer  and  smaller  animals. 

A  road  had  been  opened  between  Owego  and  Ithaca, 
on  which  a  few  settlers  had  located. 

In  the  fall  of  1806, 1  went  to  Ithaca  with  my  father, 
with  oxen  and  wagon,  after  a  load  of  salt. 

I  think  Ithaca  was  then  the  most  loathsome  and 
desolate  place  I  had  ever  seen.  It  stood  on  low, 
black  soil,  surrounded  north  and  west  by  a  quagmire 
swamp.  It  rained  hard,  and  the  black  mud  was  so 
deep,  it  was  with  difficulty  our  oxen  could  draw  two 
barrels  of  salt  home. 

My  father  and  another  man,  built  the  first  school 
house  in  the  town  of  Candor,  and  opened  the  first 
school  there.  The  school  house  stood  three  miles 
from  my  father's  dwelling  and  I  went  there  to  school 


OF  OKLKANS    COl.NTY.  137 

tlironirli  tlie  woods,  Avitli  no  (tther  slioos  tliaii  such,  as 
my  thoTIk'I-  madp  from  w(joh^ii  cloth  fvoiii  day  to  day. 
In  June,  180(5,  my  t'athei',  his  liircd  man,  my  broth- 
ers and  myself,  were  lioeing  corn,  bet  ween  ten  and 
nleyen  o'ldocdv  in  the  forenoon,  wlien  wt-  noticed  a  sin- 
ti;ular  appearance  in  the  atmosphere  ;  the  sky  looked 
sombre,  the  l)irds  retired  to  the  woods,  the  hens  to 
their  r(X)sts,  and  we  went  to  tlie  liouse.  The  sun  w«.» 
all  darkened,  but  a  rim  around  the  edge  ;  tlie 
gloom  and  chill  of  evening  settled  on  all  the  earth 
around.  This  lasted  but  a  short  time,  when  the  sun 
came  out  frcmi  its  dark  i)all,  eyery thing  assumed  ilss 
wonted  actiyit}-  and  light  and  the  •  gieat  eclipse' 
])assed  off. 

I  continued  most  of  the  time  working  with  and  U)T 
my  fathei-,  occasionally  working  for  others,  till  one 
day  as  I  was  chopping  in  the  woods,  a  young  man 
came  along  and  said  to  me.  he  was  not  going  to  live 
longer  in  that  hilly,  steille  phice  :  that  lie  had  l>een 
to  tlje  '  rrenesee'  and  found  a  country  far  preferable 
to  that  for  beauty  and  farming  purposes. 

I  heard  his  stor^'  and  determined  that  at  some  time 
1  would  see  that  famous  *  (renesee  country.' 

In  the  spring  of  1816,  1  liought  my  time  of  my 
father,  for  sloo,  I  \vas  nineteen  ytnirs  old.  1  hired 
out  to  work  for  sl4  jter  month  and  in  less  than  a 
yeiiv  earned  enough  to  pay  my  father  for  my  time, 
and  had  inone}-  left.  T  continued  working  where  1 
could  make  it  most  profitable,  got  plenty  of  work  and 
good  ])ay,  until  in  the  summer  of  1810.  feeling  as  if  1 
had  work(Ml  for  others  long  enough,  having  tlien  ten 
acres  of  land  and  several  head  of  cattle,  T  felt  a  desire 
to  get  a  good  wheat  farm  for  myself. 

T  started  with  two  young  men,  on  foot.  kna})sack!^ 
on  our  l)acks,  Aug.  27,  1819,  to  go  to  tlie  Genesee 
country.  AVe  went  through  Ithaca,  and  took  tile 
road  to  Geneva,  traveling  as  fai*  as  Ovid  the  first  day, 


98  I'lONKKU    KISTOKY 

forty  miles.  Xext  day  through  CTeiieva  and  Carian- 
daigria,  we  rejielied  AVent  Bloomfield.  Xext  day 
through  Liina  and  Avon,  w»^  arrived  at  Batavia  and 
went  to  the  otfice  of  the  Elolhind  Company  to  see 
about  land. 

In  the  office  the  agent  appeared  rather  sour,  little, 
disposed  to  l)e  sociable.  We  asked  him  if  he  had 
Land  to  sell.  He  said  Jie  had.  He  was  asked  where 
it  [ay  and  re])1ied  'everywhere,  all  over,  you  cannot 
^■0  rimiss."  T  asked  liini  if  it  was  wild,  or  improved 
farms  i  He  answered  '  go  and  look,  when  you  run 
youi' head  into  a  great  iiuin-ovement  you  will  know 
it,  won't  you  :"  I  turned  indignantly  and  walked  out 
of  the  office,  saying  '  I  had  a  mind  to  boot  that  fellow.' 

'."he  agent  followed  us  out  to  close  the  blinds  and 
Iiearing  our  con  versa  ticm,  said  rather  pleasantly, 
^  boys  keej)  a  still' u])per  lip.' 

U''e  stayed  that  night  at  the  old  'Pioneer  tavern.' 
'i'lie  landlord  tried  hard  U)  convince  me  that  the  agent 
was  a  Xew  England  gentleman,  one  that  I  wouhl  be 
pleased  to  do  business  witli. 

We  were  informed  of  the  rapid  gj-owth  of  a  new 
town  north  from  Batavia,  called  Barre,  lying  between 
tlie  Tonawanda  Swamp  and  the  Ridge  road.  Towaids 
this  new  town  we  set  (nit  next  morning. 

After  examining  various  ]iarts  of  Barre  and  (laines. 
we  selected  oui-  htcatiohs  in  Barre,  and  returned  to 
the  Land  office  to  secure  our  Articles  for  our  land  ; 
but  linding  we  lacked  a  tew  dollars  required  to  i)ay 
tjio  lirst  payment,  the  agent  kindly  otfered  to  'book' 
tJie  lots  to  us.  until  we  got  the  numey. 

We  made  no  farther  complaint  against  th(^  agent, 
wiio  -booked'  the  laiul  to  ns  and  we  returned  to 
m'ake  preparations  fin-  felling  the  timber  on  oui-  new 
farms.  Never  before  did  Ave  complain  of  the  rapid 
flight  of  time,  l)ut  here,  while  laboring  for  ourselves, 
we  fhouffht  these  the  shortest  days  we  had  ever  seen. 


<»F    OJILKAXS    CorNTY.  91) 

On  the  12th  of  October,  J819,  liavhiu'  ol)taim'(l  tlu- 
irioney,  we  went  to  the  office  and  took  out  our  Articles 
for  our  land,  went  back  to  our  work  and  after  chop- 
ping live  or  six  acres  apiece,  we  returned  to  our 
friends  in  Tioga  county. 

During  the  next  winter,  we  fitted  out  with  teams, 
tools,  clothing  and  a  quantit_\-  of  pork,  and  in  March. 
1820,  set  (mi  for  our  new  homes  and  after  a  tedious 
Journey  of  twelve  days,  through  sno\\-,  wat^'r  and 
mud,  we  arrived  home  April  1  st. 

Having  no  hay  for  our  cattle,  we  cut  1)r(t\vse  totVvd 
them,  giving  a  few  ears  of  corn  procured  from  our 
neighbors,  till  vei>:etation  grew  so  that  ilu^v  could  livf 
in  the  woods. 

We  hired  our  board  cooked  at  a.  neighbors  and 
cleared  oft' what  we  had  cho])ped  the  previous  s^^ason 
and  ])lanted  the  land  with  corn,  Tlie  season  })eing 
propitious,  we  had  good  crops  of  corn,  with  oats,  po- 
tatoes, beans  and  other  vegetaliles  and  melons  in 
abundance.  AVe  also  cleared  oft'  and  sowed  several 
acres  with  wheat. 

In  the  autumn  tlie  bears  were  very  troublesome  in 
our  cornftelds,  committing  their  nightl}' depredations, 
till  it  became  necessary-  to  put  our  veto  upon  tliem  ; 
this  we  did  in  various  ways — by  trapping,  shootiiig, 
night  watching,  etc.,  until  we  had  captured  four  of 
them  and  thus  saved  our  cf)rii. 

After  securing  our  cro})s  and  ])re])aring  for  winter, 
we  sold  our  teams  and  returned  to  our  ])ai(MitaI 
liomes. 

During  the  next  seascm  we  expcricnciHl  much  incon- 
venience in  gt^tting  our  board  dressed  for  us.  The 
woman  who  did  it  became  (piite  tired  of  doing  i]u' 
work  for  the  '  old  bachelors,'  and  T  began  to  real i/e 
tilt;  truth  of  the  DiviiKMlecla ration  that  "  it  is  not  good 
for  man  to  l)e  alone.' 

After  visitinii'  among  friends  in  Tioga  Coiintv  a  lew 


KK)  vn»\KKi:  HisToin 

(lays,  1  hiied  out  for  three  iiiontlis.  Marcli  .1,  1821,  I 
was  iiKU-ried.  About  the  mkklle  of  tlio  montli,  putting 
all  o)i  hoard  a  covered  wagon,  witli  two  yoke  of  oxen- 
attached,  and  in  conipau}'  witli  tht'  two  young  men 
])reviously  referred  to,  we  set  out  again  for  our  neAv 
wilderness  lionie,  in  tlie  Genesee  country. 

After  two  weeks  hard  lal)or,  we  arrived  at  our  home 
to  the  great  Joy  of  our  Jieighl)ors,  especiaUy  the 
momen.  We  moved  into  a  small  house  with  one  of 
our  neighbors,  until  we  could  build  us  a  house, 
which  we  bidlt  in  a  few  weeks  after. 

While  the  earl}'  pioneers  of  a  new  country  are 
necessarily  subje(.'t  to  many  liardsliips  and  privations, 
unknown  to  settlers  of  older  ccmntries,  still  there  are 
many  enjoyments  and  pleasing  reminiscences  for 
these  pione(^rs.  which  they  never  forget.  Aristocracy- 
is  uidviiown  in  a  new  country.  The  people  are  all 
friendly  and  kindly  disposed  towards  ea<'h  other.  If 
any  are  sick,  they  are  at  once  cared  for.  If  a  farmer 
was  attacked  w  ith  ague,  that  dread  disease,  so  com- 
mon among  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  before  he 
could  get  his  spring  crops  into  the  ground,  his  neigh- 
bo]-s  \N ouhl  turn  out  and  put  them  in  for  him  and  if 
necessar}',  thej'  would  keep  his  work  along  until  he 
\\as  a1»l<'  to  do  it  himself.  If  tlieie  is  an}-  state  of  so- 
<'iet.\'  wlieri^  men  fulfil  the  Divine  injunction  'love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself,*  it  is  found  among  tlie  pioneers 
of  a  iw^-  cfjuntr}'. 

If  any  one  got  lost  in  the  woods,  and  did  not  returji 
at  night,  s(»arch  was  at  <nice  made  by  everybody  and 
no  sleep  was  had  until  the  lost  one  was  found. 

.\fter  we  moved  into  (Uir  new  house,  I  started  out- 
to  buy  me  a  cow,  bought  one  and  we  now  conmienceds 
liou.s(»k(H^}>ing  under  circumstances  quite  favorable,  at 
least  our  neighbors  thought  so.  My  wife  had  a  few- 
necessary  articles  of  furniture,  so  that  ww  were  ab€)iift 
as  w«^ll  (iffas  aiiv  of  our  neighbois. 


OF  (>ui.p:an>  <  or.NTY.  lol 

There  were  no  })iaiios  or  melodeojis  in  tliosi>  (la\  s. 
The  little  wheel  for  spinning  Hax  and  the  »;reat  wheel 
for  spinning  tow,  furnished  the  nmsic  A  t«'\v  years 
later  and  we  had  other  house  music. 

I  plodded  on  foi-  figlit  years,  adding  ti«']d  to  lield  of 
-my  cdeared,  iiu])rov'ed  land  and  then  found  myself  iin- 
.-able  to  pay  even  the  interest  due  on  my  Article  to  the 
Land  Compam'. 

I  raised  about  ^1\K  and  witli  this  went  to  Batavia 
to  see  the  agent.  I  determined  this  time  to  walk  into 
the  office  with  head  iij)  and  meet  any  insult  1  might 
receive  with  manly  independence. 

I  found  the  agent  alone  in  the  oliice,  went  up  to 

Jiim  and  laid  <lown  my  Article  and  all  the  mone\  1 

.had.   saying  my  Article  has  ex])ired  and  here  is  all 

the   money   1   have.     I   want  to  renew   my  contract, 

•as  I  have  no  idea  of  giving  up  my  premises  yet. 

Tlie  agent  walk(^tl  up.  took  my  .Article,  unfolded  it 
and  said  'you  have  not  assigned  it  I  see.'  Then 
taking  up  thn  money  he  said  pleasantl\ .  "walk  into 
the  other  room.'  I  did  so  and  in  less  tinu^  than  1 
liave  been  writing  this,  my  new  Article  was  made  out, 
my  payment  indorsed  and  I  was  ready  to  start  for 
home.  But  on  returning  to  the  contractor's  room, 
•the  agent  said  to  me  he  had  relincpiished  all  the  back 
interest  and  ^1  "j)er  acre  of  the  principal,  making  an 
entire  new  sale,  with  eight  yeai-s'  pay  day.  as  at  tii'st. 
and  asked  me  if  1  was  satisfied.  My  gratitude  had 
"by  this  time  become  almost  unbounded  and  1  left 
the  office,  thanking  the  old  agent  for  his  kindness  anil 
thinking  after  all,  beneath  a.  rough  exterior  he  had  a 
genercms  heart. 

I  mention  this  incident  to  show  the  kind  and  gener- 
ous treatment  extended  towards  tlie  ])oor  industrious 
settlers  upon  the  lands  of  the  TJolland  ('om])any.  - 
Many  incidents  of  a  like  character  might  be  recorded 
.to  the  credit  of  the  (\>mpany. 


1(>2  flONEKi:    IlISTOKY 

I  caiiic  lioriK*  inspired  witli  new  energy  and  determi- 
nation  to  struggle  on  and  overcome  everj^  liardship 
and  diftienlty  in  my  way. 

We  had  l)nt  little  sickness  compared  witli  our 
neighbors,  as  yet.  In  the  spring  of  1828, 1  liad  severe 
intlamation  of  the  lungs,  and  in  the  spring  of  1828, 
T  was  taken  with  fever  and  ague,  which  held  me 
through  the  seast)n. 

The  next  spring  my  wife  was  sick  with  fever  and 
ague  and  tlirnsh.  which  kept  her  ill  till  the  October 
following. 

Our  <,'hildren,  then  four  in  number.  ha<l  their  full 
shares  of  fever  and  ague.  It  was  painful  to  see  the 
little  ones  draw  u]t  to  the  tire  while  suffering  their 
chill,  then  see  them  retire  to  their  beds,  tormented 
witli  tile  raging  thiist  and  fever  following  the  chills, 
while  their  mother  could  do  little  for  them,  except  to 
supply  their  frequent  calls  for  water. 

In  the  fall  of  1824  or  182.")  two  men  living  near  Barre 
Center,  named  ISelah  Belden,  and  Nathan  Angel, 
started  on  Saturday  morning  to  hunt  deer  west  from 
the  ('<mter.  They  parted  in  the  afternoon,  each  after 
separate  game.  At  night  Mr.  Belden  returned — Mr. 
Angel  did  not.  Next  morning  Belden,  with  some  of 
his  neighbors,  went  out  and  spent  the  day  looking  for 
Angel.  T)ut  not  finding  him,  the  next  morning  a  gene- 
ral rally  of  all  the  men  in  town  was  made  and  the 
woods  thoroughly  searched  and  the  dead  body  of  Mr. 
Angel  tbund,  having  appai-ently  fallen  and  died  from 
exhaustion.  The  body  was  carried  to  Benton's  Corn- 
ers, then  the  centre  of  the  settlement.-  a  Jury  called 
by  Ithaniar  Hibbard.  Ksq.,  one  of  the  first  coro- 
ners and  it  is  believed  this  was  tlie  first  c<^»roner  s  in- 
(juest  in  ()i leans  county.  As  the  county  was  cleared 
i\\)  and  the  low  lands  drained  of  their  suiface  watei- 
the  ]>copIe  siifien'd  less  from  ague. 

'I'he  can.-il  being  now  ojiened.  farni<M's  found  a  r(^ady 


OF  O  K LK  A  NS    CO  I  N  T  Y .  K  ►S 

market  and  better  prices  for  their  jirodiK^e.  Home 
manufactures  were  ])r()te«'ted  from  foreign  compe 
tition  and  th*-  ],)rice  of  domestic  goods  greatly 
reduced.  It  was  then  tlie  farmers  began  to  tlirive 
and  soon  to  pay  up  for  their  lands.  Tlie  price  of  real 
estate  iadvan(^ed  and  some  even  predicted  the  tinte 
M^ould  come  wlien  the  }iest  farms  woidd  be  worth  <jne 
iiundred  dollars  per  acre,  hardly  cx])ecting  to  live  io 
see  their  predictions  fullilled  as  they  have  done. 

The  attention  of  the  earl}^  pioneers  was  called  to 
the  subject  of  connnon  schools  for  their  <'hildren  and 
the  next  building  to  go  up  after  a  log  cabin  fo'  ;j. 
dwelling  was  a  log  school  house. 

One  of  (mr  own  statesmen  while  a  mem]>er  of  tiic 
Legislature  being  asked  where  he  graduated.  replie<!  : 
*  In  a  log  school  house  u])  hi  Oi'leans  county.'  I  have 
<iften  carried  my  eldest  son  to  and  from  sc1k)o1  oi:  tiiy 
back  through  the  deep  snoAvs  of  wintei-. 

More  than  forty  years  ago  I  united  with  the  Meth 
odist  Episcopal  Church  at  West  BaiTe   and  in   1843 
withdrew  from  that  church  and  united  with  the  Wes- 
le3'an  Methodists. 

Many  ye'drs  ago,  convinced  of  the  sin  of  intemjiei- 
ance,  I  resolved  to  use  no  more  intoxicating  li(]uor  as 
a.  beverage,  a  resolution  to  which  1  liave  strictly  ad- 
iiered  ever  since. 

ASA  SANFORD " 
.lannary  28111,  1862. 

ANDt.'KW    II.    (iUEKX. 

Andrew  II.  Ureen.  of  By  ion.  (renesee  count}',  N. 
Y.,  writes  for  the  Orleans  county  Pioneer  Association 
i-ecords,  his  local  history  as  follows  : 

"I  was  born  in  Jolinstovvn.  Montgomery  ('o..  N. 
Y.,  Oct.  16th,  1797.  and  in  June.  bSOl).  <'ame  to  (ietie 
see  county  from  Rome.  Oneida  county,  N.  Y. 

In  1792,  my  fatliej-  and  Judge  Tryoii,  of  New  l^eb 
anon,  cumr  to  Irondeijuoil.  near  Koehestei-   and  built 


104  riOMKKU    HISTullV 

a  storeljousc  :  and  iii  1808,  my  lather  caniH  to  vvliat  is 
now  Bergen  and  Sweden  and  piircliased  something  of 
a  farm  and  commenci^d  on  the  north  honnds  of  wliat 
i3  now  the  iVEethodist  eami)  liTonnd,  in  Beruen,  rnn- 
niug-  north  to  tlin  road  running  rast  to  Sweden  Centre, 
tvvt>nty-tivp  h>ts  <'ontainiiig  three  tlioiisand  acres  at 
tv/onty-two  sliiliings  iwv  aei-e. 

It  was  a  tiard  country  to  settle.  Tliere  were  but 
few  iidiabitants  and  tlie  roads  were  v(^ry  had.  As 
soon  as  they  l)egan  to  erect  mill-dams  theiv  was  a 
great  deal  of  sickness. 

We  Avent  to  Ilanford's  Ijanding.  at  the  mouth  of 
(Jenesee  liivei-,  to  trade  and  sell  potash.  I  found  but 
two  houses  hetvveen  oui'  hcjuse  and  (^larkson  Corners, 
and  l>ut  two  from  there  to  (lenesee  river.  For  several 
years  I  was  as  tamiliar  in  every  family  from  my 
fatlier  s  to  (feuesee  river  as  I  am  now  with  my  near 
neighbors. 

The  first  time  I  passed  througli  Kochester  was  in 
the  summer  of  1809.  The  next  I  remember  about  it 
was  the  bad  road^  and  that  T  was  ver}'  much  fright- 
ened crossing  the  (lenesee  i-ivej-.  'I'he  water  was  deep 
ajid  ran  very  swift.  1  expected  to  go  down  stream 
and  over  th«'  falls. 

\  think  tliere  was  one  mill  and  two  oi- three  shanties 
to  be  seen  tliei'e  then.  Thei-e  was  a  small  clearing 
\viier<'  the  Eagle  tavej-ji  tnrmerly  stood,  but  I  liad  as 
niMch  as  1  could  do  to  get  my  load  througli  the  mud. 
I  little  thought  then  tlmt  black  ash  swaiu])  was  ever 
to  be  the  place  it  now  is.  Late  in  the  fall  of  1809  my 
father  sent  ]»ie  to  Sangei-stield  Huddle  after  a  load  of 
iiiercliandise.  East  of  Caiiandaigua  was  anew  turn- 
[)ike  where  1  got  stuck  in  the  mud  and  had  to  wait 
until  the  next  teamster  <'ain»'  along  t(>  lielp  me  out. 
r  wastlien  fourteen  years  old.  My  father  liad  tifteen 
workmen  and  the  tirst  summer  cleared  one  hundred 
aci'es. 


OF  OUI.KANS    CO  UNIV.  lOf) 

In  October  .liulgt'  Findley  tVoin  (Teiios«>p  came  nu 
with  a  company  of  men  to  survfy  townsliij)  nimiber 
fwo  of  tlie  one  Imndred  thousand,  acre  tract.  They 
also  sto})ped  with  us.  making-  a  family  of  twenty-six 
men,  l)esides  having  two  families  in  the  house. 

The  •latch-string"  was  always  out  and  none, ever 
went  away  hungry  as  we  had|)lenty  of  pork  and  wild 
game  to  season  it.  Deer,  hears  and  w(>lves  were 
plenty.  I  never  heard  of  hut  one  panther-.  The  sur- 
veyors had  thei]-  tent  neai*  where  the  steam  saw  mill 
now  stands  in  Clarendou.  Their  cook  cauie  in  on 
Wednesday  night  for  l)read.  One  evening  he  had 
got  to  where  (A)l.  Shubael  Lewis  afterwards  lived 
Avhen  he  heard  some  one  halloo,  lie  soon  found  it 
was  a.  panther  on  his  track.  It  followed  him  to  the 
clearing.  The  man  was  much  exhausted  when  he 
came  in.  He  was  an  old  hunter  and  said  he  knew  it 
was  a  panther.  The  men  all  came  in  Saturday  after- 
noon. The  iSabbath  was  as  well  kept  in  18()U  as  in 
bS(j8.  We  were  seldom  witlnnit  »nangelical  ])reacli- 
ing.  We  had  one  close  communion  Ba])tist  Kldei-. 
some  Methodists  and  some  Presbyterians.  All  could 
sing  the  good  old  tunes  and  sing  them  with  a  will.  The 
year  ]8(H>  was  productive  and  healtliy.  In  181(», 
about  July  2(>th.  we  had  a  frost  that  killed  most  of  the 
wheat  and  corn.  Tlie  fall  of  1811  was  very  sickly. 
Thei'e  were  se\('ra1  families  settled  at  Sandy  Oreek 
village.  They  were  all  sick.  We  made  up  a  load  of 
some  six  or  seven  and  went  down  to  hel})  them.  I 
never  saw  m)  ha])]»y  a  com]^any.  We  cairied  two 
hjads  of  necessaries  and  staid  two  Light^  and  when 
some  of  them  got  so  thev  euuld  take  care  of  the 
others  we  h4t  for  home. 

I  used  to  have  many  hard  and  hinesome  rides 
through  the  woods  on  horseback.  One  very  daik 
night  I  had  been  to  Dr.  Ward's  after  medicine,  ("om- 
ino- h(mie  I  lost  mv  road   an<l  al^o  mv  liat.     Before  I 


106  IMONKER    If  I  STORY 

found  my  hat  tlu-  wolves  l)e<ian  to  liowl.  I  took  off 
my  shoes  so  that  1  niiglit  find  the  road,  and  hy  the 
time  I  had  mounted  ni}"  horse  to  "o  on,  tlie  wolves 
were  within  ''speaking  distance'"  and  hefore  I  liad 
gone  far  they  sti'uck  my  T)arefoot  tracks  :  then  they 
made  a  terrific  roaring.  1  thought  I  was  a  'goner' 
sure  enough,  but  1  presume  if  the  wolves  had  seen 
me  then  on  the  old  Avhite  horse  they  would  liave  })een 
Jis  friglitened  as  I  was. 

Our  m«?n  had  all  kinds  of  musical  instruments  and 
any  time  wlien  the  drum  was  heat  the  wolves  were 
almost  sui-e  to  respt>nd. 

Abc^ut  the  beginning  of  wintcM'  my  fjitlier  started 
Trie  off  with  an  ox  team  and  load  of  grain  to  find 
.ludge  Farwell's  grist  mill.  After  a  tedious  day's 
travel  1  came  in  sight  of  water  pouring  over  rocks. 
It  was  no  small  stream.  1  thought  it  must  be  Mag- 
ara  Falls.  1  was  glad  to  find  I  could  get  my  grist 
gi'ound,  so  1  chained  my  oxen  to  a  tree  and  found  a 
comfortable  night's  lodging  among  the  bags  in  the 
mill.  I  got  home  the  the  next  day  witli  my  grists 
Our  folks  thought  1  had  done  well  nnd  1  thought  so 
too. 

The  first  winter  1  walked  seven  miles  lo  school  every 
day  and  back  again. 

A.  U.  <iREP:K" 
Hvitoi,  (rpiii^soo  ("<).  N.  Y'.,  .luiic  1(1,  1803. 

In  a  letter  written  by  tiiealxne  named  A.  II.  Gre^en 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Orleans  County  Pioneer  Asso- 
ciation, dated  June  14th.  1866,  he  says:  'vT  w^as 
quite  interested  the  other  day.  while  hunting  up  the 
old  road  re<'ords  of  our  town,  Byron,  in  1809.  It  was 
then  the  town  of  Murray,  but  now  contains  eight  ot 
niTK^  towns  entire. 

I.I  MS    .loNKS    I'KCK. 

Mr.  P(^ck  furuished  his  local  histoiA'  tbr  theOrh^ans 


OF   OlILEA^Si   rOlNTV.  107 

County   Pioneer  Association  Records  as  follows: 

''  1  was  T3orn  Octoher  27tli.  1816,  in  a  very  clieajv 
log  lionse  on  Onondaga  Hill,  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  old  Court  House, 
Up  to  eleven  years  of  age  1  was  engaged  prin<'ipalh- 
in  endeavoring  to  get  sonietldng  to  eat.  nf>t  always 
however  with  much  success,  and  in  going  to  school 
barefoot  both  summer  and  winter. 

I  nevei'  had  anything  made  of  leather  to  wear  on 
my  feet  until  the  s])riiig  of  1828. 

My  amusements  consisted  in  listening  to  the  howl- 
lugs  of  the  wolves  and  in  gymnastic  exercises  with 
the  musketoes. 

In  May,  1828,  I  had  a  pair  of  shoes  and  was  sent 
to  Pike.  Allegany  county,  to  live  with  my  brother 
Luther.  I  stayed  there  until  May  1833,  when  I  re- 
turned to  my  parents  with  whom  I  lived  until  1836, 
when  I  went  to  \V3'oming  to  attend  the  Middlebury 
Academy. 

In  the  spring  of  1838  1  returned  to  Pike  to  read 
law  in  my  brothers  office.  Tn  1841  he  removed  to 
^^unda,  now  in  Livingston  county  and  1  stayed  with 
him  in  his  office  till  1848.  In  July  of  that  year  1 
commenced  jobbing  oji  the  canals  and  continued  in 
tliat  business  until  the  summer  of  1861.  since  which 
time  I  have  done  little  business  of  any  kind.  1  was 
never  married. 

I  left  the  town  where  ]  was  born  in  bsi7  and  ar- 
rived in  Clarendon,  or  what  is  now  Clarendon,  Orleans 
count3\  Just  forty  yeai-s  ag(»  to-day  (March  20,  1864.) 
I  came  to  llolley  liist  in  tlie  spiing  of  180(5  and  stayed 
until  December.  1  tlit^n  returned  to  Pendleton  in 
Niagara  county  and  completed  a  large  J(d)  I  had  on 
tile  Erie  Canal  through  tln^  Mountain  Ridge  and 
went  back  to  Holley  in  the  spring  of  18^7.  since  which 
titne  Holley  has  l)een  my  residence. 

M\'  mother. (lied  March  4.  1848.  aued  71  \ cars.     Mv 


108  PIONKKK    HFSTOUY 

father  diod  .hiiu' '2.    I8r>2,    aged   82  years.      1    am  tli^* 
yonngest  of  my  brothervS.  all  of  vvhoiiiai'e  living. 

Tliei-e  are,  or  were,  no  incidents  in  my  eai'ly  liirttor\' 
or  tliat  of  my  brothers,  not  common  to  all  the  early 
settlers  in  This  vicinity,  except  I  thought  we  managed 
to  be  a  littk^  ])oorer  than  an\'  bod\'  else.  My  father 
had  th(^  misfortune  of  liaving  two  ti'ades,  that  of  a 
farmer  and  <*arpenter  and  Joinei-.  He  worked  Iiis 
hands  altogether  too  much  and  his  brains  altogether 
too  little,  and  dividing  tlie  time  l)etv/een  the  two,  nec- 
essarily j-esulted  in  doing  neither-  well.  CJonsequently 
neither  ])rospered.  This  his  sons  tui-ncd  all  about  in 
182i"),  wluMi  my  broth»»rs  ])ecam('  old  enough  to  take 
charge  of  affairs.  Since  which  tim<*  there  has  been 
an  im})rovement. 

LIM'S  .ION EH  PECK." 
D.ited— HoUey,  March  20,  l.S()4. 

IIAiaKY    0(»o]HIICU. 

Harve\-  (loodrich  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  ^'. 
v.,  in  Nov.  1791.  His  father,  Zenas  (Toodrich,  re- 
moved to  that  place  from  Berkshii-t\  Mass.  When  a 
young  man  Harve}^  Goodrich  removed  to  Auburn,  N. 
v.,  and  worked  for  some  time  at  the  business  of  mak- 
ing hats,  and  for  several  years  lie  officiated  as  a 
constable.  Having  been  successful  in  accumulating 
l)roperty.  he  with  his  brotlier-in-law.  (Tcorge  W. 
Standart,  took  a  job  of  \v(»rk  in  making  the  Krie 
canal,  and  leaving  Auburn  after  his  canal  work  was 
<*om2)leted,  he  hu'ated  permanently  at  Albion  in  the 
year  1824.  and  engaged  in  selling  dry  goods  and 
groceries  in  company  with  (leorg*^  W.  Standart. 

After  Ihe  <leath  of  Mr.  Standail  Mr.  (xoodrich  soon 
quit  sellijig  di'v  goods  and  for  many  yeai's  carried  on 
the  business  of  mannfactuj-ing  hats  and  dealing  in 
hats  and  furs-  He  was  also  engHged  in  buying  pro- 
duce. For  a  number  of  years  he  held  the  office  of 
postmaster  in  Albion. 


Being  of  an  active,  energetic  temperment  and  by 
edncation  and  inclination  fitted  to  take  a  leading  part 
in  ])nblic  affairH.  lie  Avas  one  of  the  prominent  men  in 
the  comninnit}-  wlinre  he  lived,  always  conspicuons 
and  busy  on  public  occasions,  generally  holding  some 
offt<'ial  ])osition. 

In  politics  he  "was  a  dcm<»crat  of  the  sti-aitest  sect. 
faithful  and  tine  to  his  }»arty. 

But  ])eihaps  tlie  ardent  and  earnest  character  of 
the  man  ap])eared  clearest  in  his  zeal  in  tiie  cause  of 
religion. 

While  a  resident  in  Aubuin  and  about  tlie  year 
1817.  lie  made  a  })ublic  profession  of  religion  and 
united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  that 
pla<*e,  then  under  the  ]»astoral  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
J^nsing. 

One  of  the  first  enterprises  in  which  he  IxM-aiiie  in- 
terested after  he  canic^  to  Albion  was  in  establishing 
a  Presbyterian  church  there.  That  denomination 
}iad  no  chu]"cli  oiganization  in  Barre. 

Through  the  agency  of  Mr.  (loodricli.  more  especi- 
alh\  aided  l)y  several  other  Presbyterians  who  had 
settled  in  .Ubion  and  its  vicinity,  the  services  of  a 
young  preacher  from  Auburn  Theological  Seminary, 
Rev.  William  Johnson,  were  obtained  and  the  Pres- 
byterian (•'liurch  in  Al])ion  was  organized  about  Feb. 
1i2,  18*24  by  Ilev.  Andrew  Rawson,  then  laboiing  as  a 
missionary  here,  who  was  distinguished  as  a  vt^teran 
pioneer  ministtM-  in  ( hieans  <'ounty.  the  new  church 
consisting  at  the  tirst  of  Harvey  (xoodrich,  .Jedediah 
Phelps.  Joseph  T Tart.  Kbenezer  Rogers,  .lames  Smitli 
and  Franklin  ('(»wdry  and  their  wives,  and  Artenms 
Thayer.  Fay  (Hark,  Lavinia  Bassett  and  Betsey 
Phelps,  sixteen  jiiembers  in  all. 

Jul}'  29,  1824.  together  with  Messrs.  Hart  and 
Plielps,  Mr.  Croodrich  was  elected  a  nding  elder  in 
Jhe  Presbvteriaii  Church,    ;m    office   he   continued  to 


llO  IMONKKK   JIISTOKY 

hold  unti]  liis  death.  Altliougli  never  formally  chosen 
as  a  Deacon  in  the  churcli  to  wliioli  he  belonged,  he 
was  always  known  and  called  '^Deacon  (roodrich"^ 
by  every  body  wIkj  spoke  to  him  or  of  liim. 

It  was  a  remarkable  trait  in  Mr.  Goodrich's  charac- 
ter, that  seldom  a  case  of  sickness  and  death  of  any 
person  in  his  neighborhood  occured  but  what  lie 
attended,  administering  what  he  could  to  aid  the  suf- 
ferers according  to  th<>ir  needs  and  usually  taking 
<diarge  of  the  funeral  ceremonies  over  the  dead. 

Thus  for  over  forty  j'eare,  he  was  a  leading  and 
useful  man  in  the  church  and  society  at  large,  largely 
identitied  with  the  l)usiness  and  growth  of  the  vil 
lage  of  Albion,  a  friend  of  the  poor  and  needy, 
and  well  known  and  respected  ]\y  the  people  of  the 
<H>unty. 

About  two  years  before  liis  death  he  suffered 
a  stroke  of  paralysis,  completely  disabling  him  in 
the  midst  of  his  most  active  industry,  from  which  he 
lingered  and  languished  until  he  died  August  4,  1808» 
aged  71  years. 

oi:so\  Niciiosox. 

Dr.  Orson  Niclioson  was  born  in  Galway,  Saratoga 
<'ounty,  Xew  York,  Marcdi  2.  1795.  He  was  educated 
ns  a  physician.  In  the  yeai-  1822  Ik^  removed  to  the 
village  of  Albion  which  was  then  beginning  to  he 
S(^ttled.  He  entered  ardently  into  every  undertaking 
-of  a  public  character  connected  with  the  organization 
of  the  county  of  Orleans  and  the  civil  and  social  in- 
stitutions which  such  an  organizaticm  occasioned. 

He  was  ele(;tt^d  the  hrst  County  Clerk  of  Orleans 
<50unty  and  b.y  a  le-election  to  a  second  term,  held 
that  office  six  years. 

In  August  1810,  he  settled  about  two  miles  south 
of  Albion.  In  1822  he  moved  to  Albion  and  there, 
for  many,  years  had  n  large  practi('e  as  a  ])hysician. 


,4<»**^ 


Q 


-<i^-^j«- 


>v 


<>K    OUJ.EAXS     r'orNTY.  Ill 

His  liealtli  failing,  lie*  w(Mit  into  buisiness  witli  Dr.  L. 
r.  Paine  and  dealt  in  drugs,  mediciiu's  and  Ijooks 
until  a  few  years  before  liis  death. 

He  was  tlie  first  regular  pli\>ieian  who  settled  in 
Barre,  he  was  also  the  first  physician  who  settled  in 
Albion. 

Dr.  xSichoson  married  Luey  Morris  in  the  \  ear  I82(i. 
The}'  had  thrt^e  ehildren.  Adeline  E..  Caroline  A. 
and  Helen  .1.  .Adeline  E.  married  .lonathan  S.  Stew- 
art, and  Helen  J.  married  ('harles  A.  Stanttm.  She 
died  May  12,  18(52.  Mrs.  Luey  Xichoson  died  Oc- 
tober 8,  "1804.      Dr.  OrsoTi  Xichoson  died  ^Sfay  7,  187(i. 

riMoTllV    <•.    STUONC. 

r 

Timothy  (?.  Strong  was  born  in  Southampton. 
Mass.,  March  li"),  171)0.  At  tlie  age  of  sixteen  years 
he  entered  as  an  apprenti(•^-  to  learn  the  art  of  print- 
ing with. I.  J).  Huntington,  at  Middlebury,  Vermont. 
He  married  Aurelia  (Toodsell,  daughter  of  Dr.  Pen- 
field  Goodsell,  of  Litchfield,  (;t.,  April  14,  1811.  He 
commenced  business  for  liimself  at  ISIiddlebury,  by 
publishing  a  newspaper  called  the  '*  Yermcmt  Mir- 
ror," also  a  niagazim'  edited  by  Sannu'l  Swift,  and  ;i 
literary  work  called  the  "  Philosophical  Repository,'" 
edited  by  Prof,  Hall,  of  Middlebury  College. 

In  Sept.  1817,  he  removed  to  Palmyra,  X.  Y., 
where  he  published  Ji  newspa})er.  In  the  fall  of  1821' 
he  removed  to  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  and  in  February 
1825,  he  remo\vd  to  New})ort,  now  Albion,  Orleans 
county,  N.  V.,  and  purchased  of  Franklin  Cowdr} 
a  newspaper  establishment  called  ''The Newport  Pat- 
riot,'' which  was  started  by  Mi*.  Cowdry,  Feb.  9th. 
1824.  Ml-.  Strong  changed  tlie  name  of  this  paper  to 
'The  Orleans  Advocate.'  In  Febuaiy.  1828,  in  the 
midst  of  the  excitement  following  the  abduction  of 
Morgan,  Mr.  Strong  changed  it  to  tli»'  'The  Orleans 


112  !M(»NKEH   Hisroin 

Advocate,  and  Anti-Masonic  Telegrapli,"  and  soon 
at'td-  to  'The  AnKn-ican  Standard.'  Under  this  name 
it  was  puhlislied  tAvo  years  l)y  Mr.  J.  Kenipshall, 
when  it  jiassed  batdv  into  the  liands  of  Mr.  Strono; 
wiio  rhan,i;ed  it  to  the  "Orleans  American.'  and  puT*- 
lislied  it  till  in  April  1S44,  when  he  sold  his  paper 
and  i)rintinf;-  establishment  to  J.  <t  .1.  H.  Denio,  who 
continued  the  ])aper  till  18r)8,  when  they  sold  out  ^ 
and  after  passing  through  seAeral  hands  it  was  bought 
in  .fanuary.  K'^()l.  by  H.  A.  Bruner.  its  present  pro- 
]»rietor. 

In  XoA'ember.  18:^4,  Mi'.  Strong  aa as  elected  (younty 
(lerk  of  Orleans  county,  an  office  he  continued  to  hold 
l\y  re-election  for  nine  years. 

Mr.  Strong  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  early 
life  and  united  with  the  Preslnterian  Ohurch.  He 
died  at  Albioji  of  a  cancer  August  fith,  1844,  in  the 
lifty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  leaving  a  wife  and  twelve 
children  surviving. 

X ATI!  AN   wiirrxEV. 

Nathan  \\'hitne\'  was  l^orn  in  (.onway,  Massachu- 
setts. January  :22d.  1791.  II(^  removed  to  Orleans 
c(mnty.  in  February,  1814,  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Barre.  1  \('  was  at  tlie  taking  of  Fort  Erie  in  Septem- 
ber, 1814.  Wlien  the  town  of  Barre  was  organized 
he  was  elected  .Fustice  of  the  Peace,  an  ofli(.'e  he  held 
several  years  and  when  Orleans  county  w^as  set  off 
lie  was  elected  Sup^n'visor  of  Barre  and  served  in  the 
year  1820.  Joeing  fond  of  military  exercises,  he  held 
\arious  military  offices  from  Lieutenant  to  Lieutenant- 
Colon*'!.  1^'ing  regarded  as  a  capable,  lK)nest  and 
efficient  man  b}-  his  fellow  citizens,  he  was  often  put 
forward  by  them  to  official  positions  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  almost  every  town  office.  He  removed 
from  Barre  to  Elba.  (3}enesee  county-,  in  1827.  and  af- 


OF    OIJT.KAN^    ('(»nNTV.  113 

terwaidts  reitioved  to  T^'e  county,   Illinois,  wliei>^  hn 
was  liviiiji,'  in  tlK-"  fall  of  l.Sd9. 

AVKKY     M.    STARKWEATllKU. 

Avery  M.  Starkweather  was  born  in  Preston,  Con  " 
necticut,  October  3d,  179<».     He  resided  a  time  in  Pa! 
»nyra.  ^.  Y.,  and  came  tc*  the  town  of  Rarreand  took 
an  article  lor  his  farm  in  Aj)ril,  181G,     After  the  Erie 
Canal  was  opened,  for  thirteen  years  he  had  charp,e 
of  the  first  State  rej^airiiiiz:  srow  T)oat  on  this  section. 
He  was  Superintendent  of  Canal  Repairs   one  yeaj. 
His  beat  extended  from  HoUey  to  Lockport  and  at  a 
salar}-^   of  s^oOO,  without  a  clerk   or  any  perquisites. 
His  instructions  required  him  tf>  travel  over  and  per 
sonally  inspect  Ms  section  at  least  once  each  week  in 
the  season  of  navigation,  which  he  did. 

For  thirteen  year*?  he  was  an  assessor  of  the  town  <  1 
.Barre,  and  was  Supervisor  of  the  town  for  the  years 
1842  and  1843.  He  was  an  active,  thorough  biisinesH 
man,  honest  and  c(mscientious,  much  respected  as  far 
as  he  was  known.     He  died  Oct.  3,  1865. 

AMOS    i;oo'r, 

Amos  Root  was  born  at  Sand  Lake,  ReJisselaei 
<'ount3',  X.  Y.,  July  12tli,  18(13.  He  was  aj)prenticed 
to  learn  the  trad<!  of  blacksmith  and  removed  to  Alie- 
gany  county,  X.  Y.,  in  1818.  After  serving  his  ap 
prenticeshi])  he  carried  on  business  as  a  l^lacksmith 
nearly  thirty  3-ears.  sin«'e  which  time  he  lias  l)een  a 
farmer. 

Al)Out  183(5.  he  nnned  from  Allegany  county  to 
Michigan,  and  retiirTn^d  to  ihe  town  of  Barre  in  18;^.8, 
whei'e  he  has  since  resided. 

He  mairied  Rhoda  Ann  Hennr'tt  July  11th,  1S24. 
Being  a  large  and  strong  ir;an  in  his  youth  lie  wat* 
noted  as  a  great  wood  chopper.  While  residing  in 
Allegany  county  he  was  engaged  with  a  large  compa- 
ny cutting  out  a  n<.>w  road.     A  bet  of  fifty  dollars  was 


114  P!0?iKK!l    niSTOKY 

made  by  the  coiiipaiiy  aw  to  Jiis  power  as  a  cliopper. 
A  large  wliitc  oak  tip*'  was  fell^^d  and  Mr.  Root  and 
ills  antagonist  stood  on  it  to  try  wliicli  could  first 
cliop  off  a  l(jg,  Root  taking  the  butt.  Mr.  Hoot  won 
the  bet.  It  was  a  Lot  day  in  Jnly.  The  man  o])- 
jjosed  to  liim  overworked  liiniself  and  died  in  a  week 
afterwards  from  tlie  effects. 

Mr.  Israel  Root,  father  of  .Vmos,  who  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  lemovtHl  from  Allegany  to  Orleans 
county  in  1825,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  his  S(jn  Amos,  in  Rai-re.  He  came  aci-oss  the 
country  in  a  wagon  with  his  fandly,  and  Amos 
brought  the  goods  on  two  canoes  made  of  large  pine 
Jogs  and  lashed  togethei-.  These  he  launched  on  the 
Genesee  vun^r  at  (rardeau  and  paddled  down  to  Roch 
ester  and  then  put  them  in  tin?  canal  and  came  to 
Gaines"  Basin,  then  n  favoi'ite  landing  place  for  emi- 
grants who  conie  l)y  ca,nal  to  setth'  in  this  vicinity, 
ozr.vs  s.  ciirRcii. 

Ozias  S.  Chuicli  was  l)orn  in  Windham,  Connecti- 
cut, January  ;-?lst,  1785.  By  occupatioii  he  was  a 
farmer,  though  he  labored  with  his  fatliei-  at  the 
f)lacksnuthiiig  business  during  his  minority.  Octo- 
hej-  18th.  18(n>.  he  married  Parmelia  Palmer,  who 
was  born  in  Windhajii,  Oct.Hd,  1780.  The}^  removed 
to  Otsego  county.  X.  Y..  in  1812,  where  he  worked  at 
farming  until  1817.  when  he  removed  to  Henrietta, 
M(mro(?  Co..  N.  Y..  and  fi'om  thence  to  the  town  of 
15[irre  in  1884. 

Mr.  Church  was  a  (hMuociar  in  ])olitics  and  took  a 
d(M3])  and  active  interest  in  his  ])arty.  As  United 
Wtates  Marshal  he  took  the  census  of  Monroe  county 
in  1880,  and  «»f  Oi  leans  county  in  1840,  He  was 
I*ost  Master  at  South  Bari-e  foi'  twenty  years. 

Mrs.  Churcli  died  Dec.  7,  18(51,  and  Mr.  Church 
Dec.  10th,  18(>8.  They  weie  ])jirents  of  John  P. 
(Miurch.    who   died    while   C(»untv  Clei-k  of  Orleans 


Ui^ 


OF   ORLEANS    COINTY.  11 0 

-county,  ill  December,  1808,  and  of  Hon.  Sanford  E. 
Chureli,  present  Chief  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals 
'-of  tlie  State  ( )f  New  York. ' 

WILLIAIM    P.KADXEK. 

William  Bradner  removed  to  the  town  ot  (laines 
from  Palmyra,  N,  Y.  Soon  after  he  bought  of  Mr. 
McCollister  the  article  for  lot  thirty -five,  on  the  East 
side  of  Main  street  in  Albion,  and  took  a  deed  from 
the  Holland  Company  for  266  1-2  acres,  December  3, 
1819.  His  brother,  Joel  Bradner,  took  a  deed  from 
the  Company  for  ninety- two  acres  lying  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  said  lot  thirtj'-five.  William  Bradner 
sold  one  hundred  acres  of  tlie  north-west  ])art  of  his 
tract  April  22nd,  1822,  to  Tngersoll,  Smith  &  Buck- 
ley. 

A.     HYDK    COLK. 

Hon.  AhiK^ron  Hyde  Cole  was  born  at  Lavanna, 
'Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  April  20th,  1798.  His  pa- 
rents removed  to  Auburn  in  1807,  and  there  he  pre- 
pared for  college  and  entered  tlie  Sophomore  class  in 
Union  College  in  ISlo.  Among  liis  classmates  were 
(xeorge  W.  Doane,  lateBisho})  of  New  Jersey,  Alonzo 
Potter,  late  13ishop  of  Pennsylvania,  Dr.  Hickok, 
late  President  of  Union  Colk^ge,  and  William  H. 
Seward,  late  (xovernor  of  New  York,  Senator,  &:c. 
He  remained  in  college  two  years  and  then  left  with- 
out conqJeting  his  college  course,  in  consequence  of 
the  death  of  his  mother,  and  other  changes  in  his 
father's  family. 

In  the  tall  of  1817,  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Judge  JoseiJi  L.  Richardson,  then  first  Judge  of 
•Cayuga  county,  as  a  student.  He  was  admitted  At- 
torney in  the  Supreme  ('ourt  in  his  twenty-first  year 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Richardson  in 
practice.  A  few  months  afterwards  he  dissolved  with 
Judge  Richardson   and  entei-ed  into   partn(>rshi]i    to 


1]6  PIONKKli    HlftTOKY 

piac'ti(.'e  law  witli  Mr.  (ifeorgr  W.  Fleiniiig,  AfU;r 
being  at  Seneca  Falls  for  Ji  time,  they  removed  Ur 
Albion  in  the  spring  of  1825.  where  the}-  practiced 
law  together  till  1832.  After  dissolving  with  Mr, 
Fleming,  Mr.  Cole  was  for  sonu'  years  in  practice  of 
law  with  his  In-other.  Hon.  Dan  11.  Cole. 

Ml-.  Cole  served  seventeen  years  as  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  the  town  of  Barre,  and  transacted  an  ira- 
niense  anionnt  of  official  bnsiness. 

In  No\eniber,  1847,  he  was  elected  member  of  tht» 
Senate  of  the  State  of  Xew  York,  where  he  served  one 
term  of  two  years  and  declined  a  re-election.  After- 
leaving  th(^  S(Miate  he  resnmed  his  law  practice  iii 
Albion,  bnt  a  large  amount  of  business  (^oming  into- 
his  hands  as  executor  in  the  settlement  <.»f  an  estate* 
in  (^ayuga  county,  he  «'Jos<^d  his  law  practice  in  Al- 
bion and  devoted  his  time  exclusively  to  the  duties  of 
his  executorship,  and  to  the  management  of  a  large 
farm  he  owned  in  the  town  of  Gaines. 

Although  a  good  advocate  and  a  strong  and  logical 
reas(jner  at  the  bar,  Mr.  Cole  was  not  so  fluent  and 
])olished  a  speaker  as  his  pai'tner  Mr.  Fleming.  In 
their  earlier  yeai'S  of  piax^tice  tog(^ther.  Mr.  Cole  fui'- 
nif<hed  his  quota  of  brains  to  the  tirm.  whih^  Mr.  Flem-- 
ing  furnished  the  tongue. 

Mr.  (^)le  was  esteenu?d  to  be  a  well  read  and  soun<l 
lawyer  whose  opinions  on  legal  questions  were  much 
sought  ;ind  relied  on.  His  ('ounsel  and  advice  were 
s(>  much  valued  among  the  people  that  he  early  Ihj- 
ranie  distinguished  T)y  way  of  eminence  as  the  'coun- 
selor* or  'counselor  Cole.*  by  which  title  or  name 
he  was  always  s])okon  of  and  well  knoMii. 

Ill  temperament  he  was  ardent,  impulsive  and  sen- 
sitive, feeling  ([uick  and  sharj^ly  tin;  iritations  of  the 
moment.  Bnt  nothing  like  hatred  ever  had  a  place  iu 
his  bosom. 

From  the  ^tecuiiaiity  of  his  ciiMrMcter  he  sometime* 


OF  oKj.KANs  roi;:NJY.  117 

;appearetl  /jni^sf/i/eand  ruuglitothose who  approached 
Mm,  but  no  man  had  a  kinder  heart.  The  sternness  or 
^-pjiarent  liai'sliness  of  manner  which  he  possessed. 
wafr;  more  than  l)ahinced  in  liis  case  by  the 
feeeii  regret  lie  felt  when  1h^  knew  he  had  caused 
pain  to  any  and  the  lieart}'  sympath}'  and  g(^nei'osity 
Jie  ever  manifested  to  those  in  distress. 

Mr.  Cole  was  never  married.  Coming  toOi'leans 
tMjunty  when  it  was  first  organized,  among  the  tirst 
lawyers  who  settled  here,  he  was  a  prondnent  man  in 
public  aifairs  and  well  known  to  the  people  of  the 
x-ounty.     He  died  Oct.  14,  1859. 

HKN.fAMIX    L.    nKSSAC. 

**I  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Baltiinore.  Greene 
t-ounty,  N.  Y.,  March  12th,  1807.  The  death  of  my 
mother  which  occurred  when  I  was  twelve  years  of 
,age,  threw  me  upon  the  family  of  nn'  grand  ]>arents 
where  I  n-mained  until  I  was  fourteen  3'ears  old,  M^' 
fiatlier,  who  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  who  re- 
sided in  the  county  of  Chenango,  having  mai-ried  a 
«<^ond  time  and  closed  uj)  his  business  in  Chenango, 
started  for  the  State  of  Ohio  with  a  view  of  commen- 
<*ing  business  there  as  a  farmei-.  This  was  in  the  fall 
•of  1821.  When  he  arrived  in  the  town  of  (.'larence, 
Erie  count}',  a  snow  storm  set  in  and  prevented  his 
further  ])rogress  that  fall,  and  having  with  him  some 
tools  and  a  small  stock  of  mm  he  rented  a  shop  and 
began  w(u-k  Jis  a  blacksmith  at  Ransom's  drove,  as  it 
is  now  called,  at  ( -larence  Hollow.  He  soon  after 
purchased  one  Iiundi'ed  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
.at  the  ( Treat  Rapids  on  the  the  Tonawanda  Cnvk, 
.«ix  miles  south  of  Lockport. 

In  the  summer  of  1822.  having  obtained  a  scanty 
•trommon  school  education,  and  l)eing  large  enough  U> 
help  my  father  in  his  shoj)  and  on  his  farm,  he  wrote 
to  me  ijivinii"  a  ijlowing  account  of  the  country',  of  Ids 


118  PlO^v'KEK    HISTORY 

farm,  of  tlio  line  iisli  in  the  creek  and  tlie  fine  sport 
in  taking  them,  and  d(^siring  me  to  come  and  liel}> 
]iim. 

I  accordingly  went  to  All)any  and  put  my  ljaggag(^ 
on  board  a  seven  liorse  wagon,  then  about  to  sail  for 
Buffalo,  loaded  with  specie  for  tlit^  I'nited  States"* 
Bank  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania.  Thus  equipped  I 
started  tVti'  the  Holland  Purchase  in  .luly,  1822,  iit. 
<'are  of  Mr.  Hockins,  the  owner  of  the  establishuKUit. 
We  t]-aveled  slowly,  not  making  over  fifteen  miles  a 
day,  sleeping  in  our  wagon  nights  and  watching  our 
treasure,  (xetting  tired  of  this  slow  mode  of  travel- 
ing, when  we  arrived  at  Canandaigua  I  took  the  stage 
and  came  on  to  Clarence,  and  arrived  at  my  father's 
July  22d,  1822.  In  a  few  days  I  went  with  my  father 
to  explon^  his  new  farm,  he  car3ing  a  bag  of  provis- 
ions and  I  a  compass  and  chain  with  (jther  articles 
for  our  journey,  ^iy  half-brother  William,  then 
thirteen  years  old,  accompanied  us. 

It  was  here,  in  .hily,  1822,  in  what  was  then  called 
'  tlu>  nortii  woods '  that  I  commenced  my  pioneer  life,- 
and  for  tlie  next  thret^  years,  and  until  October,  1825, 
I  shared  in  the  hardships,  labt)rs  and  privations  of 
the  early  settlers.  During  that  time  I  assisted  in 
c]io]>l)ing  and  pai'tly  clearing  fort}'  acres  of  lieavily 
tiiribered  land  and  erecting  a  comfortable  log  build- 
ing. Being  ])ossessed  of  a  strong,  athletic  frame,  and 
a  good  robust  constitution,  and  never  having  been 
sick  a  day  in  my  life,  1  i^ndured  the  hardships  and 
labors  of  the  wilderness  with  che'rfulneFS  and 
])leasurt'.  and  1  oft«'n  look  liack  to  tliose  days  and 
reckon  them  among  th(^  happiest  of  my  life.  And  1 
would  not  omit  to  lecord  hen^  with  grateful  heart 
till'  kind  care  of  my  Heavenly  Father  in  ])reserving 
my  life  amid  the  dangers  and  accidents  through 
which  T  passed  in  my  youthful  days. 

Not  ])ossessing   at    my  fatliers  the  advantages  for 


OK  oIJi.KANS  ((trNTV.  119 

mental  inipi-oveiiK^iit  wliicli  I  <ipsirpd.I  concluded  in  the 
fall  of  182.0  to  abandon  my  pioneer  life,  return  to  the 
east,  obtain  an  education  and  study  a  j^rofession. 
Accordiiiiily  October  2d,  l^^n,  I  left  my  ax  and  hand 
spike  and  wt^nt  to  Lockpoit,  uot  on  board  the  canal 
boat  'DeWitt  Clinton"  and  .sailed  foi-  the  east. 
8topj)ing  in  Albion  for  the  boat  to  take*  on  loading  I 
took  an  excursion  through  that  low.  muddy,  and  as 
I  thought  unsightly  young  village.  1  little  thought 
then  that  'Newport,'  as  it  Avas  called  was  destined 
to  be  my  future  home.  1  tlieii  ])ronounced  Xewport 
a.  (pieer  place  (m  which  to  build  a  town. 

I  returned  to  the  boat  and  passed  on  tlu'ough  Hob 
ley.  Brockport.  .\ dams'  and  Spencer's  Basins,  all 
little  straggling  hamlets,  as  I  thought  them,  ar- 
riving in  Rochester  in  the  night.  Mt^v^  I  expected  io 
meet  a  gentleman  from  Tompkins  county  by  appoint- 
ment, with  whom  T  was  intending  to  travel  to  visit  my 
relatives  in  this  vicinity  and  tlien  ^i.)  by  boat  with 
some  relatives  to  Albany.  But  the  gentleman  did 
not  couK^  as  I  expected.  My  little  stock  of  mon«'y 
was  exhausted  on  Tuesday-  night  in  paying  for  my 
supper.  I  was  noAv  a  stranger  in  a.  strange  land.  I 
knew  not  what  to  do  or  how  I  shouhl  be  provided 
for.  1  wandei'ed  al)out  Rochester  until  Saturday 
morning,  eating  nothing  except  a  few  apples  which  I 
picked  up  in  an  or«'hard  in  the  town  of  Brighton.  :  I 
slept  nights  on  the  piaz/a  of  tlx^  Exchange  Hotel,  on 
the  corner  at  the  intersecti(m  of  the  canal  with  the 
basin,  where  the  ])a('ket  boats  used  to  lay  u]).  Every 
morning  when  a  lire  was  made  u])  in  the  old  bakery 
at  the  west  end  of  the  atpieduct.  1  went  into  the  front 
room  and  warmed  myself,  tantalized  by  the  smell  of 
the  T)read  which  was  piled  u])  on  the  counter,  stearii 
ing  hot,  and  for  which  1  was  starving.  1  was  too 
])roud  to  beg.  and  1  thank  (iod  Cor  it,  too  hoiK^st  to 
steal. 


Tlni8  the  week  passed  until  Saturdjiy  iiioruiiig  when 
I  had  a  j)ressing-  invitation  to  join  a  circus  company 
then  performing  tliere.  I  was  then  young,  ac^tive  and 
strong,  but  my  good  (juaker  training,  and  above  all 
the  hand  of  Providence  shaping  my  ways,  kept  my 
3'^outhful  feet  from  tliat  imih. 

On  Saturday  morning  1  met  a  man  who  asked  me 
if  I  would  work,  and  I  gladly  hired  t(j  him  for  a  part 
of  the  day.  He  led  the  way  to  the  barn  back  of 
the  *'anal,  between  Fitzhugh  and  S(jphia  streets, 
where  the  ground  was  literally  strewn  M'ith  heav}' 
raiinon.  and  I  worked  until  the  middle  of  tlie  after- 
noon assisting  to  put  them  on  a  scow  boat  for 
distribution  along  the  canal,  to  be  used  in  firing  a 
grand  salute  at  the  meeting  of  tli<'  waters  of  Lake 
Erie  with  the  Hudson  river,  November  2d,  1825,  a 
day  never  to  be  forgotten  in  Western  New  York.  1 
r":ceived  half  a  dollar  for  my  work  and  went  to  a 
liumble  tiivern  for  supper  and  had  lodging  in  a  bed. 
A  better  meal  or  sweeter  sleep  I  never  enjoyed.  The 
next  morning  1  went  out  on  the  street  and  almost  the 
tirst  man  I  met  was  thn  friend  for  wijom  1  was  wait- 
ing. 

After  writing  to  my  rehitives  in  Tompkins  county  1 
\M  for  Albany  and  entei'ed  the  city  with  the  tleet  of 
canal  boats  in  the  canal  celebration  November  2d, 
lH2i),  amid  the  roar  of  artillery  and  tlie  sound  of  mar- 
tial musii*. 

Tlie  Erie  and  Champlain  canals  were  now  finished. 
Navigation  between  the  ocean  and  lake  was  now 
opened,  and  a  new  era  of  unparalleled  prosperity  had 
conmienced,  and  the  pxiiltant  ])e(jple  wen-  duly  cele- 
brating tliH  aus])icious  event.  '  Peace  hatli  her  victo- 
ries.' 

After  mingling  with  the  throng  that  crowded  the 
streets  a  few  hours,  J  started  on  foot  for  the  home  of 
lay  childhood,  where  loved  ones    I    had  not   seen  for 


OF    oUJ.EANS    <<»rNTV.  121 

more  than  tlnw  vt'iirs  weiv  daily  »'Xj)<M'ti]ig  iiif.  It 
was  night-fall  when  I  ascended  the  last  hill  Jind  the 
well-known  trees  were  standing  like  sentinels  aronnd 
the  old  homestead  in  the  fading  twilight.  My  trnant 
feet  onee  more  passed  the  threshold.  The  old  watch- 
dog knew  ni}'  stej).  With  a  Unttering  heart  I  looked 
in  at  the  window,  and  for  a  moment  snrveyed  the 
group  as  thin  sat  around  the  <-heerfnl  fireside,  (rod 
in  his  goodness  had  kept  them  all  and  the  wandering 
idiild  had  got  home. 

I  was  past  eighteen  years  of  age  wlien  I  retnrne<l 
from  Western  New  York.  I  had  seen  sf>mething  of 
the  world  and  had  some  exjierience  in  j)ioneer  life. 
My  education  was  not  such  as  the  district  schools  of 
this  day  afl'ord.  My  mind  had  been  somewhat  in\- 
proved  by  reading  in  a  desultor}'  and  aimless  man- 
ner. I  taught  a  winter  school  in  my  native  town,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1820  hired  out  as  farm  lahorei-  at  nine 
dollai'S  per  month  in  the  county  of  Albany. 

I  taught  sch(K>l  in  the  same  county  the  winter  of 
1826-7,  and  in  the  si)ring  entered  the  Ureenville  Acad- 
♦^my,  in  Ureene  county,  where  I  remained  until  the 
coming  fall,  and  by  this  time  I  had  succeded  in  pi-e- 
paring  myself  to  enter  the  sophomore  class  at  I'nion 
College  ;  my  friends  however  prefered  that  I  should 
tc)llow  a  mercantilf,^  life,  and  pnjcured  me  a  situation 
in  a  wholesale  dry  goods  house  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  whert^  I  i-emained  until  the  termination 
of  fall  business.  I  then  returned  to  my  native  town 
intending  to  go  back  to  ^'ew  York  the  following- 
spring. 

1  taught  scho(;l  at  Marbletown,  lister  county,  N. 
Y.,  the  winter  of  1827-S,  with  great  success,  foi'ming 
many  ])leasant  aci^uaintances  that  have  been  chei- 
ished  through  suhse(pient  life. 

Early  in  the  spring  1  was  attacked  with  IMeurisy, 
and  lay  at  th<-  }>oint  of  death  for  a  number  of  days. 


122  I'K  (NKKU  ,  H  IS  rOKY 

On  recuvcriiiir  the  s])niio-  had  s(»  far  advaiict'd  I  did 
not  goto  New  York  as  I  intended.  bnT  continued  my 
sell ool  until  the  spring  of  1.S29.  when  laying  down 
i\\eferulr  1  ('(tinnienced  business  on  my  own  account 
in  the  village  of  West  Troy.  All^any  county,  heing 
nearly  twenty-two  years  old. 

April  11.  1880,  I  was  married  t(»  hehorah.  daughter 
of  Bev.  Simeon  Dickinson,  of  East  Haddam,  Conn. 
She  was  at  that  time  a  teachei-  in  Mis.  U'illard's  Fer 
male  Seminaiy  at  Troy. 

I  continued  my  business  at  WVst  Troy,  until  the 
fall  of  that  yeai-,  when  I  sold  out  and  lemoA'ed  with 
my  wife  t(»  the  city  of  Mo])ile.  .Vlahama.  where  she 
opened  the  Mobile  Fcnnale  Seminary,  under  tlie  most 
favoral ^\  e  a  u s})ices. 

I  was  clerk  in  th(^  United  States  Hank  in  tliat  city. 
In  the  month  of  Dec,  1881  my  wife  died  suddenly, 
and  I  was  left  ;done  in  a  strange  city  witliout  a  rela- 
tive nearer  than  the  State  of  Xew  York. 

I  transferred  the  St^minar}'  to  other  hands,  resigned 
ni}^  clerkship  in  the  Bank,  (dosed  up  my  business 
matters,  and  in  Mandi  1882  i-eturned  to  my  old  home. 

T  spent  that  sunmier  and  the  following  winter  in 
traA'eling  for  recreation,  and  in  the  s])ring  of  1888, 
being  twenty-six  years  old.  1  entered  upon  the  stud}* 
of  the  law  with  Amasa  Mattison  Ks(j.,  then  a  promis- 
ing lawyei-  of  C'airo.  in  the  county  of  (Ireene,  where  I 
remained  until  fall,  when  1  enter<'d  the'oftice  of  Judge 
TTii'am  (rardner  of  Lixdvport  and  remained  with  him 
until  A])ril  188'),  wheii  I  came  to  .Albion  \vhe]-e  I  have 
ever  since  resided. 

June  b8.  188.5,  T  was  married  to  Candinc-  (t.,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Baker  of  ('oeymans,  in  the  county  of 
Albany  and  in  August  following  ]»ur(diased  the  ]tro])- 
•'rty  on  whi(di  J  have  since  resided. 

T  am  now  (1862)  nearly  tifty-four  years  of  age,  and 
must  soon,    in  all    human    ])r(d)ability.    lay  aside  the 


OF  ORLEANS    fOlNTY.  123 

active  duties  of  my  ])rofession.  and  jield  ni\^ place  to 
those  younger  and  better  fitted  fortlie  resjxmsibilities 
of  the  station. 

In  reviewing- the  })atliway  of  my  life  1  l)ehold  it 
plentifully  strewn  with  incidents,  always  overshadow- 
ed hy  the  watchful  care  of  my  Heavenly  Father, 
whose  unnumhered  mercies  I  am  called  U})on  to  record. 

AVhen  fourteen  years  of  age  I  united  with  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church  in  Greene  county,  upon  a  con- 
fession of  my  faith,  and  in  1842  I  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  All^ion.  my  wife  coming  with 
me  to  the  same  altar. 

I).  L.  HESSAC." 
Albion,  January  S,  lHr53. 

IIKNKV    ]{.    (  TRTIS. 

Hon.  llenrA'  K.  Curtis  was  born  in  Hoosic,  Rensse- 
laer county  New  York,  in  the  year  1800.  After  pass- 
ing his  youth  at  labor  on  a  farm,  and  in  acquiring 
such  (.elementary  education  as  his  own  exei-tions  and 
the  limited  means  of  his  widowed  mother  could  sup- 
ply, he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Daniel 
Kellogg  of  Skaneateles,  and  ju'i'^^it'^^  it  aftcn-wards 
with  Hon.  Hiram  Mathei-  in  P^lbridge,  New  York. 
•  In  the  fall  of  1824  he  settled  in  All)ion.  Orleans 
county  before  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  going  into 
partnership  with  Alexis  Ward,  who  was  here  before 
him,  and  who  had  been  admitted  to  tli<^  Supreme 
Court. 

In  18:^1  he  was  appointed  District  Attorney  for 
Orleans  county,  in  which  office  he  was  continuiKl  by 
subsequent  appointments,  (excepting  the  year  1882,) 
until  June  1847,  when  he  was  elected  County  Judge 
and  Surrogate,  being  the  first  (^ounty  Judge  chosen 
under  the  constitution  of  184<>.  He  was  re-eh^cted  to 
the  same  office  in  Nov.  ISoO.  and  died  befoi-e  the  ex- 
])ii-ation  of  his  second  term. 

Befon'  he  w;is  a   Judge   he    liad  lield    the  offices  of 


Examine]'  and  Master  in  Chancery,  and  many  civil 
offices  in  town  and  village. 

He  wjis  a  liard  student  devoting  himself  to  tlie 
labors  of  liis  profession  with  untiring- assidnity,  never 
engaging  in  other  business  speculations. 

For  twenty-five  years  he  was  a  ruling  Elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  mm-h  of  that  time  a  faith- 
ful teacher  in  the  Sunday  School  in  his  church. 

As  an  advocate  he  was  cool,  clear  and  ])ersuasive, 
and  the  known  honesty  of  his  charactej-  and  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  manner  and  language,  conmionly  carried 
conviction  in  his  favor  to  the  courts  and  Juries  he 
addressed. 

As  a  counselor  he  vsas  a  peacemaker,  judicious, 
<'autions  and  sound.  Never  encouraging  litigation 
when  it  could  be  avoided.  He  was  a  man  with  few 
enemies  and  many  friends,  an  honest  law\er  and  good 
man.     He  died  September  20.  1855, 

ZKNAS    F.    HIRIiAKI). 

"  I  was  born  in  Scroon,  Essex  county,  New  York, 
April  4,  1804.  My  ancestors  were  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  were  jimong  those  who  tied  to  this  country  from 
the  oppressions  of  the  old  world,  to  enjoy  <-ivil  and 
religious  liberty  in  tlie  new  world. 

M}'  father  a ftei-wjirds  removed  from  Scroon  to  Bran- 
don, Vermont,  and  from  Brandon  he  moved  in  the 
summer  of  b'^lO.  to  what  is  nr>w  Barre,  New  York. 
.July  1:2.  bSl(>,  on  lot  10,  townshi])  15,  range  2,  of  the 
Holland  l*urchase.  one  mile  west  ("f  Albion  where  lie 
lived  sixteen  years.  lie  then  removed  to  Barre  Center 
where  h(^  resided  until  his  death,  whicli  occurred 
February  5,  185:;}. 

I  att«mded  the  first  s<'hool  taught  in  Barre.  in  a  log 

richool  house,  which  stood   on  the    west   side   of  Oak 

0)"cliard  road,  in  what  is  now  the   village   of  Albion. 

also  attended  the  first  town    meetiim-  in    Barre  after 


OF    OFil.KANS     COl  NTV.  125 

tlif  town  was  organized,  at  tlie  hous«-  of  Al)iahani 
Mattison,  al)0ut  two  miles  south  of  Albion.  I  also 
attended  the  great  celebration  of  the  o])ening  of  the 
Erie  Canal,  Avhen  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  mingled 
witli  those  of  the  Hudson  River.  I  was  also  jjresent 
when  the  site  for  the  eounty  buildings  was  .located  at 
Albion,  whicli  was  the  most  exciting  time.  ]>Hrhaps, 
ever  known  in  this  county. 

1  was  present  when  the  first  Congregational  church 
in  the  town  of  Barre  was  formed,  at  the  house  of 
Joseph  Hart.  This  church  then  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons,  vi/ :  Josepli  Hart  and  wife, 
Ebenezer  Rogers  and  wife.  Ithamar  Hibbard  and  wife. 
Artemas  Tliayer  and  wife.  Artemas  Houghton  and 
Thankful  Thurston. 

I  was  mairied  to  Amanda  Wrisle^-,  in  Barre,  June 
j;>,  1828.     She  was  T)orn  in  dill.  Mass.,  Nov.  18.  1809. 

Z.  F.  ITIRBAKD.' 
Dated — Karre  ('fnti-r,  Ai)ril  ith.  1H(m. 

Jjetter  t'nnn  AVilliam  TanncM-.   fornieriy   of  Orleans 
county,  N.  Y.,  written  to  tlie  Pioneer  Association  : 
•'To  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Orleans  (■ounty 

Pioneer  Association : 

Uentlemen  :  As  fond  memurv  often  shar])ens  old 
ears  to  catch  some  word  of  the  old  lionie  ( )f  our  youth, 
so  now  at  three  score  years  and  one  I  have  lieard  of 
your  society.  What  you  do  or  what  you  say,  I  do 
not  know,  but  I  do  know  if  y(.)u  are  tlie  real  ])ioneers 
T  should  be  glad  indeed  to  meet  with  you  at  your 
annual  gathering. 

Tell  me.  dear  sirs,  are  yon  together  to  sj>eak  of  the 
days  when  Albion  was  a  mud  hole,  and  Jesse  Bum- 
pus  and  Dea.  Hart  and  a  f*'w  others  owned  tlie  whole 
of  it  ^  And  when  the  old  log  school  Ji<uise  half  a 
mile  north  of  Albi(m  was  built,  where  Francis  Tanner 
lirst  declared  nuirtial  law  among  the  little  folks  ;  and 
when  Mr.  Jakeway  so  well  ada])ted  tothebusinei<s  by 


126  PloNEElt    JirSTORY 

his  six  feet  four  iiicliesof  ])ody  and  legs,  used  to  break 
tlie  road  tlirougli  four  feet  of  snow,  with  tliree  yoke  of 
oxen,  from  the  Ridge  Koad  to  father  Crandall's  near 
one  Angel's,  not  (labriel,  "but  '  Cabin  Angel,'  as  he 
was  called  by  way  of  distinction. 

And  tliere  was  I)ea.  Daniels,  and  Esq.  Babbitt  a 
little  east,  the  workings  of  whose  face  denoted  wis- 
dom as  he  sat  in  Judgment  to  decide  weight}^  matters 
between  neighl)ors. 

Never  shall  I  forget  envying  tluit  man  his  high 
office  as  justice  of  the  peace  when  I  was  a  small 
boy. 

Then  there  was  John  Proctor  and  his  tall  and  ami- 
able wife  and  large  farm. 

Then  again  at  Gaines  Corners,  the  corpulent  land- 
lord Booth,  together  with  Dr.  Anderson,  with  his 
mild  and  pleasant  wa^y-  of  telling  people  it  wouldn't 
liurt  much  to  pull  teeth,  and  then  almost  taking  their 
heads  off  with  his  strong  arm. 

Later,  tliere  was  good  Jeptha  Wood,  who  first 
taught  me  that  hot  and  cold  iron  would  not  weld 
togetlier. 

But  I  must  not  name  others  lest  I  have  not  room  to 
say  a  word  to  the  <jld  Pioneers. 

How  simple  was  I  in  my  boyhood  days  to  envy 
the  honored  Esq.  Babbitt,  or  the  rich  farmer  Proctor 
of  those  early  times.  I  have  since  been  *  Esq.'  my- 
self. I  liave  been  rich  also  ;  but  neither  the  honor  of 
the  one  nor  the  gold  of  the  other,  brings  happiness 
while  here  on  this  mundane  sphere.  AVhen 
I  turn  ni}'  thoughts  to  the  spot  of  all  others  most 
dear  to  me,  Samuel  N.  Tanners  old  farm,  and  the  '  city 
of  the  dead,'  Mount  Albion,  opposite  to  his  once 
earthly  habitation,  where  I  once  chased  the  deer,  and 
see  the  monumental  slabs  t^-ected  over  heads  man}'  of 
whom  were  my  friends  in  youth,  I  am  ready  to  ex- 
claim— '  Where  are  the  pioneers  I  (mce  knew  i' 


<»F  OKI. HANS    Cur'NTV.  127 

But  sirs,  some  of  vou  still  live  and  allow  me  tu 
?<peak  of  what  you  have  done.  Yoii  are  among  the 
greatest  men  of  the  nation.  You  liave  leveled  the 
sturdy  forest,  planted  fiuitful  fields,  orchards  and 
gard(^ns.  l>nilt  lailroads  and  canals,  set  nj)  talking 
wires  l)y  wliicli  we  carry  our  freight  and  trav*^l 
('liea])ly  over  tliiec  hundred  miles  a  day  and  converse 
witlj  lightning  speed  with  far  distant  friends. 

I  imagine  1  sec  I)e  AVitt  Clinton  standing  in  liis 
beautiful  garden  in  the  city  of  New  York,  listening, 
as  it  were',  to  hear  the  sound  of  the  axes  of  Dea. 
Hart.  Bumpus.  Proctor.  Babbitt,  and  a  long  list  of 
jiames  I  hav<*  no  room  t(j  refer  to.  And  I  se(^  him 
turn  to  give  the  (,'ommissions  to  the  Chief  P^ngineer 
and  Surveyor  ;  and  what  do  I  liear  liim  say  ?  '  The 
pioneers  are  theie  at  work  :  you  can  accomplish  your 

work  now." 

• 

Teach  it  to  Aour  rhildreji  and  grand-children,  that 
they  ai-e  indel>tefl  to  you  for  all  the  vast  improve- 
ments made  in  the  great  west,  as  the  result  of  hard 
toil  and  labor.  Labor,  wliich  always  precedes  the 
developmeni  of  everything  great  and  good;  labor, 
that  (iod  ordained,  sanctioned  and  approved;  labor 
that  is  so  conducive  to  health  and  comfort  and  that 
brings  its  sure  reward.  1  love  lal)or,  e^'en  in  deepest 
old  age.  T  would  obey  Cod  and  benefit  myself  b}" 
laboring  when  able,  seeing  it  is  the  only  sure  road 
leading  to  individual  and  national  wealth  and  great- 
ness, as  well  as  to  ])ersonal  ha])]>iness  and  com- 
fort. 

Had  (Mir  statesmen  spent  money  without  stint  and 
built  youi-  lailroads  and  canals,  unless  ])receded  and 
accompani<'<l  by  the  ])ione»M-s,  it  would  have  availed 
but  little. 

Education  is  a  i)riceh'ssaccpiisition  ;  give  it  to  the 
voung  bv  all  mt^ans,  hut  do   not  foraet  to  teach  them 


128  PIOXKKU    HrsTUKT 

the  great  value  uiu\  ])enetit  of  intelligem  and  well  di- 
I'eeted  lalx))-. 

And  now.  gentlemen.  1  assk  youi'  patience  In  deci- 
phering my  tremhling  writing,  and  excuse  bad  spell- 
ing, for  1  see  much  of  it.  T  have  labored  too  long 
and  hard  to  be  able  now  to  write  elegantly. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  tanner;^ 

Ka<t  Liberty.  Allen  Co.,  Iiul,  March  13,  1865. 

KOSWKbr.    S.    BIRKOVVS. 

Roswell  S.  Burrows  wjis  born  in  (iroton,  Conn., 
Fel>.  22,  1798.  He  was  fitted  for  college  at  BacoB 
Academy,  Conn.,  entered  the  Sophomores  Class  in 
Yale  College  in  1819,  and  took  a  dismission  in  the 
fall  of  1820,  in  consequence  of  protracted  ill  health. 
He  never  returned  to  college,  but  in  the  year  1867,  the 
honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  was  <'onferred  on  him  by 
Yale  College.     • 

He  i-eceived  some  capital  b}'  devise  frr)m  his  grand- 
fatlu^r  with  which  he  purchased  a  cotton  factory  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  there  carried  on  business  for  some 
time  for  himself.  His  factory  not  provhig  as  profita 
l)le  an  investment  as  he  expected,  he  sold  out,  receiv- 
ing a  small  payment  down  and  a  mortgage  for  the 
balance,  which,  through  the  fraud  of  another  party, 
])roved  a  total  loss. 

Tu  Jul}'.  1824.  he  came  to  Orleans  county  and  lo- 
cated at  Albion,  and  in  Sept.  next  after,  he  borrowed 
two  thousand  dollars  of  his  father,  and  a  like  sum  of 
his  father-in-law.  laid  it  out  in  a  stock  of  goods,  and 
witli  this  <'apita],  increased  by  a  small  sum  saved 
from  the  ruin  of  his  factory  speculation,  coiimienced 
business  as  a  merchant,  in  a  little  wooden  )>uilding., 
standing  very  near  the  site  of  the  First  XationalBank 
of  Albion. 

Tn  November  1824,  his  younger  brother,  Lorenzo 
B)urrows.  came  t<»  Albion  t<)  assist   him  as  his   clerk. 


Wf 


h. 


r--^-»  <■ 


Y/A//ArK>^  n 


<»K    ()UT,KANS    (HTNTV.  129 

This  {iiTaii,uvii!('iit  continued  until  in  1S2(\  tlif  tinn  <  : 
K.  S.  &  L.  HuiTows  was  fonn«^d.  wlucli  existed  \n 
l)usiness  as  dry  "oods  nierelumts.  2:)r()dii('e  dealer.--, 
and  in  ^vai-eli()usin<j;  and  forwarding  on  tlieErie  Canal 
for  ten  or  eleven  years,  wlien  tliey  sold  out  their  entire 
stock  of  goods. 

When  Mr.  Burrows  settled  in  Albion  the  canal  w;ts 
made  navigable  as  far  west  as  Lo('kport,  and  one  iri- 
ducement  he  had  to  sto])  liere  was  the  ])romise  of 
Canal  CommissioiK^r,  Wni.  C.  Bouck,  that  he  should 
receive  the  appointment  of  Collector  of  Canal  revenue 
an  office  tli(Mi  about  to  be  established  at  Albion. 

This  office  of  (jolhM'toi-  was  given  to  him  in  1825, 
and  was  continu(,'d  by  re-ajipointment  until  b'^.32, 
when  he  Avas  succ-eeded  T)y  C.  ^^.  McConnell. 

Mr.  Burrows  built  the  warehouse  now  standing  iirx"! 
east  from  Main  street  on  the  canal,  in  1827.  After  th<- 
sale  of  their  goods  in  store,  as  above  stated,  Messir.. 
K.  8.  &  L.  Burrows  continued  their  warehouse  busi- 
ness and  dealt  in  pr(jduc(-  until  the  general  banking 
law  went  into  ojjeration.  under  which  they  estaf>- 
lislied  the  Bank  of  Albion,  which  commenced  busi- 
ness under  tliat  law  Jidy  IHth,  1889.  This  bank  coii- 
tinued  in  operation  about  twenty-seven  years,  an<i 
was  finally  (dosed  under  the  new  policy  which  sub- 
stituted National  Banks.  Its  first  officers  were  Rc»s- 
w^ell  8.  Burrows,  President ;  Lorenzo  Burrow's,  Cash- 
ier; and  Andrew  J.  ('hester.  Teller. 

Mr.  Burrows  organized  a  new  bank  in  Albion.  I  ><- 
cember  23,  bSO*},  called  'The  First  National  Bank  of 
Albion.'  This  was  the  first  National  Bank  which  went 
into  opeiation  in  the  State  of  New^  York  west  of  Sy- 
racuse. Roswell  S.  Burrows,  President  ;  Alexande: 
Stewart,  (^ashier ;  and  Albert  S.  AVarner,  Tell'-r. 
Mr.  E.  S.  Burrows  own(Hl  a  majorit}'  of  the  capital 
stock  of  botli  these  banks,  w^as  always  their  Preside] it 
and  a  T>ire<'tor  and  the  princi])al  manager. 


loO  FIOXEKU    iliSTOKY 

\Mtliiu  tln^  last  forty  years  Mr.  Ijui-j-ows  has  been 
Director  and  Trustee  of  many  corporations  and  coni- 
{)anies,  siicli  as  railroad  companies,  telegrapli  com- 
p-anies,  tlie  Niagara  Falls  Suspension  Bridge  compa- 
ny, and  on<^  mining  company.  lie  has  been  Trustee 
of  sm'eral  religious,  iKMievolent  and  literary  institu- 
tious.  llt^  lias  frec[uentiy  been  proposed  by  his 
friends  as  a  candidah^  for  various  civil  offices  hut  ah 
ways  declined  a  nomination. 

Several  3^ears  since  the  extensive  and  very  valuable 
library  of  Professor  Neander,  of  Germany,  was  of- 
f'red  for  sal<^  by  reason  of  the  death  of  its  owner. 
Mr.  Buri-ows  purcliased  this  librar}'  and  presented  it 
to  the  E.ochester  Theological  Seminary,  connected  with 
MieBaptisr  denomination.  This  library,  consisting  of 
several  thousand  \-olumes  of  rare  and  valuable  books 
collected  througli  many  years  by  one  of  the  best 
scholars  of  his  time  in  Eui-ope,  is  valued  nt  trom  fii"- 
t.vn  to  twent}'^  thousand  dollars. 

In  addition  to  this  library,  a  few  jears  ago  Mr.  Bin- 
rows  offered  to  give  this  Theological  Seminary  the  mu- 
nificent gift  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  add 
to  its  endowments,  with  the  ])romise  of  more  if  pros- 
y-ered  in  business  jis  lie  hoped  to  be.  The  Trustees 
of  the  Seminar}'  proposed  to  Mr.  Burrows  if  he 
would  increase  his  proposed  endowment  of  that  insti- 
t'ltionto  uvo  hundred  andlifty  thousand  dollars  they 
would  give  it  the  name  of  'The  Burrows  Theological 
Seminary  of  .Rochester,  N.  Y." 

These  proposals  it  is  understood  have  never  been 
f*>rmally  withdrawn  or  acted  on. 

As  a  business  num  Mr.  Burrows  is  cool,  shrewd, 
clear-headed  ami  sagacious ;  never  disturbed  by 
l^anics,  or  deceived  by  false  ap])earances.  l\o  lias 
accumulated  a  great  tbrtune  b}'  indefatigalile  indus- 
ti-y,  and  prudently  and  safely  iuA  estinji'  his  accumu- 
lations.      .Mtliouu'h     a-'lvaiieed      iu     years,     lie    wjis 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  131 

never  perluips  more  hiiay  than  now,  and  never  found 
Jiis  great  exj)erience  and  capital  yielding  liim  a  larger 
profit. 

AViLLi A3r  h?:nnim an. 

Judge  Peiniinian  was  born  in  Peterboroiigli,  Hills - 
borough  County,  N.  II.,  .Vugust  5,  1793.  After  ob- 
taining a  good  common  school  and  academic  educa- 
tion in  Ids  native  State,  he  emigrated  to  Ontario  Co., 
l^ew  York,  in  Sej)t.,  1816,  and  from  thence  to  Shelby. 
Orleans  County,  in  October,  1820.  He  took  up  land 
in  that  town  on  which  he  resided  about  eight  3'ears  ; 
lie  then  removed  to  Albion,  remaining  there  more 
than  two  years,  finally  settling  on  a  farm  in  Barre, 
near  Eagle  Harbor,  whca-e  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

In  1825,  Mr.  Penniman  was  appointed  a  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  for  Orleans  County,  then 
lately  organized,  and  was  one  of  the  first  bench  of 
-fudges,  which  composed  that  Court,  which  ofiice  he 
lield  five  years.  In  1831,  he  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  of  Barre  and  served  in  that  office  until  he 
removed  to  Eagle  Harbor,  when  he  resigned. 

In  1846,  he  represented  Orleans  County,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Convention  to  revise  the  Constitution  of  the 
State  of  ISTew  York. 

Judge  Penniman  was  a  celebrated  school  teacher 
for  many  years  after  he  came  to  Orleans  County, 
having  taught  school  fourteen  winters  and  seven  sum- 
mers. He  always  took  a  livel}'  interest  in  the  subject  of 
common  schools,  was  Commissioner  of  schools  and 
town  inspector  each  of  the  eight  years  he  resided  in 
Shelby,  and  served  as  town  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Barre  three  years,  while  that  system  was  the  law. 

He  was  a  popular  Justice  of  the  Peace,  while  act- 
ing in  tliat  capacity.  He  used  to  say,  he  once  issued 
108  summons  in  one  day,  in  all  of  which  Dr.  William 
White  was  jJaintiflT.     As  a  Judge  he  was  firm,  up- 


182  rrftN'KKK  history 

rifilit  jnul  iiiii)artial,  aiming  to  sustain  tlie  right  in  his 
decisions,  and  in  all  his  official  and  social  relations  hr 
has  sustained  a  character  marked  for  sonnd  views  of 
men  and  things,  honest,  faithfid,  sagacious  and  true  ; 
and  lunv  in  his  old  age  and  retirement  enjoys  the  re- 
s])ect  of  all  who  know  him. 

.lESSE   .>rASOJS\ 

Jess<'  Mason  was  horn  in  Cheshire,  Mass.,  July  24;. 
1779.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  He  removed 
to  Phel])s.  Ontario  C'ounty  N.  Y.,  about  the  year 
181(1.  \\here  lie  resided  six  years,  then  removed  to- 
Baire,  Orleans  IJounty,  and  settled  on  lot  17,  in  town- 
si  lip  IT),  lange  2,  now  owned  by  Wm.  H.  Pendry. 

In  tlie  year  1837,  he  sold  his  property  in  Barre  and'; 
remov(nl  to  Ohict,  wlum^  lie  resided  until  liis  death,  in- 
Nov.,  1804. 

Mr.  Mason  served  one  cani])aign  in  the  war  of  1812,. 
was  one  of  the  last  American  soldiers  to  leave  Buffa- 
lo wl'.eu  it  was  burned  by  the  British. 

Mr.  ^[ason  was  a  man  of  positive  convictions  in  alii 
matters  of  his  belief!,    political,    moral  or    religious.. 
Energetic,  enter] )i'ising  and  liberal  in  all  that  pertain 
ed  to  ])iiblic  affairs  in  his  neighborhood,  he  bore  even* 
more  than  his  share  in  all  tlie  labors,  expense  and 
trouble    in    opening    roads,    founding    schools    and. 
churches  and  organizing  society  in  the  new  country... 
.Vll   such  duties  and  burthens  were  performed  and 
borne  by  him  as  labors  of  love,  in  which  he  seemed 
to  deligiit. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Mason,  wife  of  Jesse  Mason,  daugh- 
ter of  llev.  John  Leland,  a  Baptist  minister,  residing 
in  Orange  c(mnty,  Va.  was  born  Dec.  18,1778.  Mr.. 
Leland  was  originally  from  Mass.  AVhile  living  in 
\irginia  he  bec'ame  the  intimate  friend  of  President 
.lelferson,  and  it  is  said  Mr.  JefTerson  derived  his  first 
clear  idea  of  genuine  democracy  from  what  lie  saw  of!" 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  133 

the  working  of  that  principle  in  a  church,  of  whicli  Mr. 
Leland  was  pastor.  Miss  Leland  married  Mr.  Mason, 
in  Cheshire,  about  the  }ear  ISOO.nioved  witli  liini  to  the 
west,  and  as  long-  as  lie  lived,  proved  herself  a  help- 
meet indeed,  lull}'  sharing  and  sympathizing  with 
liim  in  all  the  toils,  hardsldps  and  anxieties  througli 
whicli  he  passed  in  a  long  and  activt^  life.  She  died 
January  21,  1807. 

STEPilKN    1!.    TIirnSTOX. 

"  I  was  horn  in  Westmort^land,  Oneida  Co.,  X.  Y., 
January  '■>,  1808,  and  removed  witli  nn'  father,  (Jalel» 
O.  Thurston,  to  Barre  to  reside,  in  the  spring  of  1814. 
My  father  being  a  farnu^r,  brought  me  up  to  la])or  in 
that  honorable  calling.  I  resided  with  my  father,  at- 
tending school  occasionally  winters,  until  I  was  twen- 
ty-two years  old,  when  I  bought  seventy-six  acres  of 
land,  part  of  lot  1'.),  township  15,  range  2,  in  Ban-e. 
-on  which  I  resided  until  A])ril,  I860,  when  I  i-emoved 
into  the  village  of  Albion,  where  I  now  reside. 

I  was  married  to  Miss  Julianna  Williams,  daughter 
'of  Samuel  Williams,  of  Barre,  January  11,  1832. — 
She  was  born  in  Burlington,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  A])ril 
.5,  1812. 

S.  B.  THURSTON." 
Albion,  July,  1807. 

HUFUS    HALLOCK. 

Rvd'us  Ilallock  was  born  in  Richmond,  Chittenden 
Co.,  Vt.,  Nov.  7,  1802.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and 
young  Bufus  lalxned  on  his  father's  farm  summers 
:a,nd  attended  school  winters. 

In  February,  181. ">,  with  his  father's  family,  lie  re- 
moved to  Murray,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1823,  lie 
removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Louisville,  St. 
Lawrence  Co.,  where  he  resided  two  years,  and  then 
•<*ame  to  Barre,  Orh^ans  Co.,  and  settled  on  lot  43, 
township  14,  range  2,  of  the  Holland  Purchase,  whert^ 


T34  PIONEER    IIISTOKY 

lie  resided  till  his  death  in  1870.  He  was  iiianied  July 
H,  1826,  to  Susan  Tucker,  of  Shelby,  who  was  l)orn  in 
New  Hampshire,  May  9,  1804. 

Mrs.  Hallock  died  at  her  home  in  Barre,  May  18thy, 
1868,  a.2;ed  64  years. 

Mr.  Halloek  by  his  industry  and  economy  ac- 
cumidated  a  competence  of  property. 

In  religious  belief  a  Baptist,  Mr.  Hallock  was  regard- 
ed as  an  exemplary  christian  man,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  Resolute  and  prompt  in  his  charac- 
ter Jind  conduct,  he  generally  met  and  overcome- 
or  removed  every  obstacle  and  adversity  which  he- 
has  encountered  in  his  path  in  life. 

He  told  a  story  of  his  father  which  illustrates  what 
sort  of  a  man  his  father  was,  and  exhibits  a  daslr 
and  courage  which  has  been  ti*ansuiitted  to  his  de- 
sceudants. 

Traveling  alone  through  the  woods  one  da}"  after  he 
cauie  to  tliis  county,  he  saw  a  bear  and  two  cubs- 
asleep  unde'r  the  roots  of  a  fallen  tree.  Resolving  tt>> 
capture  a  cub,  Mr.  Hallock  stealthily  (U'e])t  up  to  the 
spot  where  they  lay  and  seized  a  cub  l)y  its  hind  legs- 
and  backed  away  dragging  his  prize  and  keeping  his 
eyes  fixed  on  the  mother  beai'  who  followed  after  hhn 
growling  and  gnashing  her  teeth.  He  kept  on  in  this 
way  several  rods  until  lie  backed  and  fell  over  a  fal- 
len tree,  when  the  old  b(^ar  attracted  by  the  cries  of 
the  cub  left  behind  returned  to  that  and  came  {ifter 
him  7i(»  more.  Mr.  Plallock  carried  the  cub  hom(=- 
tJimed  and  raised  it.     He  died  .Ian.  16),  1871. 

JONATHAN    (  [.ARK. 

''  I  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Rockingham  county^ 
New  Hampshire.  July  'M,  17iK).  My  father  died 
when  1  was  (piite  young.  1  lived  with  my  grandfath- 
er. John  Clark,  until  I  was  fiftetm  years  of  age  ;  T 
then  went  to  live  with  mv  Uncle,  -lohn  (^lai'k,  .Fr..  in,. 


«'F  OKI.EAXS    <  OITsTY.  ^'■'^> 

Saloiii.  Massachusetts,  Avliero  I  reniaiucd  until  I  w.-ss 
twcnty-ono  ye.'irs  of  age. 

Marcli,18] 2,1  -went  ahcniid  tlie  scliooiier  Talbot.Capt . 
(reorge  Burclmiore.  lieadt^d  foi-  tlie  East  Indies,  \x\ii\ 
a  uiiscellaneous  cargo  in  the  (•a])acitY  of  a  coninu»n 
seaman. 

Xotliing  woitliy  of  note  happened  To  us  until  we 
readied  tlie  eipiinoctia]  line,  wlien  the  Ca])tain  said 
"  Old  JS'eptnne  must  come  aboard  that  afternoon  and 
the  green  ones  must  he  shaved  and  sworn.""  T!ie 
oatli  which  we  were  reqnired  to  take  in  connection 
with  the  other  raw  liands,  was  as  folhnvs : 

*M  promise  to  never  eat  hi'own  bread  when  I  caii 
get  white  ;  never  to  leave  the  i)ump  until  I  call  for  a 
spell  ;  and  never  to  ki-ss  the  maid  when  I  can  kiss 
the  mistress."' 

The  shaving  process  consisted,  in  l)rief,  in  placing 
the  subject  on  the  windlass,  brushing  liis  face  with 
tilth  and  scraping  it  oft*  with  an  iron  lioop,  as  a  sub- 
stitute fo]-a  razor,  the  subject  in  the  meantime^  being 
in  great  dangei-  of  having  the  unsavoiy  lather  thrust 
into  liis  mouth  while  taking  the  oath.  Luckily  for 
me  I  passed  the  ordeal  more  happily  than  my  com- 
rades having,  in  advanc(\circidated  a  bottle  of  saijoss 
"■  O  be  lovful." 

Crossing  the  lin<^  is  a  great  occasion  r<tr  Jokes  and 
fun  in  general  among  sailors. 

In  due  time,  and  witlionl  liarm.  we  reached  the 
vicinity  of  the  (•a])es.  wlien  we  encountei-ed  lieaAy 
weatlie]'. 

We  I'an  tweiitv-three  days  iiiidei-  close  reefed  To]>- 
sails,  s] lipped  a  lieavy  sea  on  our  starboard  quarti-v 
which  washed  the  wliole  h'Ugth  of  the  deck  and  ca?^ 
ried  awa\^  oui-  bulwarks.  Wt?  dou1)led  the  Ca}»e  o1 
(rood  Hope  and  reached  tiie  Isle  of  France  (me  hun 
dred  and  thirtecMi  days  ont  from  Sal<^m.  We  lay  the;  e 
t\vf>    months,  dis(diarge({    caru-o.  took  in    balhxst  and 


1ii^G  I'lOXKKIl    HISTOIJY 

sailed  for  the  Iskmd  of  Siiinalia.  Wo  were  lunmiig 
into  Lemonarger  wlieii  we  wciv  met  l)y  an  armed  boat 
commanded  by  a  man  claiming  to  bt^  king  of  Ar- 
cheen,  who  demanded  of  iis  a  dnty  on  the  pepper 
we  might  purchase.  We  ivgarded  him  and  his  crew 
;is  savages  and  pirat^^^,  and  declining  to  trade  with 
them  put  to  sea  again.  AVe  ran  to  iSoo-Soo  and  saw 
a  sail  approaching.  Tliat  (^xcit^d  our  apprehensions 
of  danger. 

'I'he  Captain  inquired  if  \\h'  would  light  should  the 
occasion  demand  it.  Our  unanimous  response  was 
'*  we  will." 

We  wei'e  tlK^i  stationed  wliere  we  could  do  the  best 
execution  in  self  defence. 

My  stati(mwas  on  the  si(U>  of  the  ship  with  an  ax 
to  vnt  off  their  hands  should  they  attempt  to  board 
us.  All  the  men  Avere  armed  with  deadly  wea])ons, 
and  we  had  a  six-pounder  ready  for  any  emer- 
gency. 

The  strange  Aessel  sent  a  boat  to  us  witli  a.  letter 
v/iitten  in  English,  rt^questing  us  to  trade  with  the  king 
of  Archeen,  or  in  case  of  our  refusal  he  would  seize 
US  and  our  vessel. 

The  night  following  being  very  dark  we  weighed 
anchor  and  i)ut  to  sea,  ])idding  his  suspicious  majes- 
ty good-bA^e. 

We  th(Mi  sailed  to  an  l^iiiglish  i)ort,  To])anooley, 
'ivjiere  we  took  in  a  cargo  of  pep])er  antl  sailed  for 
home. 

We  were  to  touch  tin*  J^i-a/ils  to  receive  the  orders 
of  the  owners.  Here  we  weiv  hailed  by  what  we  re- 
garded as  a  liostile  vessel  and  chasinl  and  tired  at 
astern;  and  when  foi-ced  to  yield,  to  our  great  joy 
we  found  the  strange  vessel  to  be  a  man-of-war  from 
our  own  Salem,  named  'Thedrand  Turk."  a  priva- 
teer sent  out  to  i-e-take  our  shi}),  which  the  owners 
supposed  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  British. 


OF  ORLEAXS    COI'NTY.  137 

The  mutual  congratulations  between  tlie  crews  of 
the  'Talbot'  and  'The  Grand  Turk*  were  very 
pleasant  to  us  all.  Here  we  first  learned  of  the  war 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  which 
had  then  betMi  doing  its  work  of  desti'uction  ten 
months. 

We  entered  the  })ort  of  Pernambuco,  March  18th, 
1813,  having  been  absent  Just  one  year.  The  cai'go 
was  put  in  Portuguese  bottoms  and  sent  to  Europe. 
The  second  mate  and  myself  remained  to  takt^  care 
of  the  ship  until  November,  ISlo,  when  I  left  for  Gib- 
raltar on  board  tlie  Rebecca,  with  a  cargo  of  hidc^s 
and  sugai'.  AVe  stopped  at  Gibraltar  a  few  daj's, 
then  ran  down  to  Naples  and  discharged  cargo  and 
took  in  a  miscellaneous  loading  and  returned  liome- 
Avards,  landing  in  New  York  where  I  was  discharged, 
and  started  for  Salem  wliere  I  arrived  January  1st, 
1816. 

I  give  the  names  of  the  places  in  the  East  Indies  as 
I  heard  them  pronounced.  I  niay  have  spelled  them 
wrong.     I'hus  ends  my  seafaring  life. 

July  oth,  1816,  I  left  Boston  for  AVestern  New 
York.  I  traveled  through  Albany,  taking  the  Great 
Western  Turnpike,  walking  on  loot  all  the  way,  until 
near  Aubui-n  when  a  traveler  kindly  permitted  me  to 
ride  with  him,  saying  he  would  take  me  to  where  \ 
could  find  good  land. 

We  passed  through  Rochester,  and  taking  the 
Ridge  Road  came  to  Sheldon's  Corners,  now  West 
Gaines.  We  then  turned  south,  Jind  traveling  about 
a  mile  reached  a  school  house  just  as  the  school  was 
out  for  noon.  A  little  sunny-faced  giil  ran  uj)  to  us 
and  said  to  the  man  who  had  so  kindly  assisti*d  me : 
'  Well  dad,  we  are  glad  you  have  come  for  we  are 
about  half  starved  out.' 

That  man  was  Gideon  Freeman  and  tli(^  little  gii-j 
was  Sally  Freeman. 


138  IMOXKKR    mSTOKV 

I  looked  ni'ouiid  ;i  little  and  finally  houglit  the 
farm  on  which  I  have  ever  since  resided,  ])ai't  of  lot 
fifty,  ill  towiishi])  fifteen,  range  two.  of  tln^  ilolland 
Purcliase,  lying  in  the  noi-th-w^^stern  part  of  J5arre. 
then  (laines.  near  the  south  end  of  what  is  now 
known  as  '  The  Long  Bridge/  oAer  the  Ei-ie  canal. 
My  land  cost  me  five  dollai's  p(M-  acre.  T  took  an  ar- 
tich^  for  it  and  was  ;i1)1e  to  pay  in  full  in  ahout  eight 
years. 

I  nndeibrushed  li\e  aci-es.  built  n  h»g  house  and 
went  hack  to  Salem. 

I  Avas  married  Xovemlter  '2'}\\\.  ISJC).  to  Ahigail 
Simonds.  who  was  hoi-n  in  Salem.  Massachusetts. 
-July  0th.  1700. 

AVhile  I  was  ])reparing  to  stait  on  onr  journey 
west  1  "was  accosted  by  an  ohl  sailor  friend 
who  inquired  where  I  was  goings  L  said  'to  the 
Holland  Purchase."  Said  he.  'where  can  that  he^ 
I  never  heard  of  that  ])lace  before.'  I  told  him  'it 
was  a  fine  countr}' in  Westei-n  N<nv  York;"  that  'T 
had  bought  a  farm  there.  huiU  a  log  house  and  was 
going  to  live  ther(\"  Said  lie.  •  I  would  not  give  the 
gold!  could  scrape  from  a  card  of  gingerbread  foi' 
tile  entire  Holland  Puichase."  Ihit  he  did  not  know 
everything. 

]\h'  wife  and  I  left  Snleni  for  oui'  new  westein  home 
with  a  s})a]i  of  horses  and  a  wagon.  We  were  twen- 
ty one  days  on  the  road.  We  ai'rived  at  my  ])lace 
and  began  lioused\ee])ing  .laiiuaiy  1st.  b'^1 7.  without 
a  table,  a  <*hair  or  a  liedstead,  all  of  whi(di  :n'ti(des  1 
soon  mad«^  in  true  (lenesee  juoiieer  style. 

For  many  years  in  the  settlement  1  was  called 
'Sailor  Chirk  *  to  distinguish  me  from  another  (Mark 
who  was.  [  am  hap})y  to  say,  a  very  decent  man. 

Money  being  very  hard  to  be  got,  we  mad<'  hlcrA 
.VV///.V.  which  became  practically  a  legal  tend»M'  or  sul> 
stilute  for  mone\-. 


OF  (lKL^:A^■s  cointy.  139 

I  and  my  iieighbo]-.  Mr.  Benjamin  Foot,  worked 
together  in  tin-  inannfa('tnr»\  hnt  aftei'  a  time  lie  gold 
to  a  Mr.  Elijali  ShaAv.  wlio  condncted  th(-  })nsiness 
witli  nic  until  that  nt'cessarv  callinu-  was  "played 
«nit.' 

Mr.  Sliaw  and  myself  arc  the  only  pcisons  living  m 
this  school  district  who  came  in  as  early  as  JSIG. 

My  wife  having  been  reared  in  the  city  knew  noth- 
ing of  spinning  wheels,  though  she  was  a  good  house- 
keeper :  Tmt  under  the  influence  of  her  neighbor's 
example,  sht^  urged  nu^  to  raise  flax  and  purchase 
her  a  Pioneer  Pinno,  which  I  did,  biinging  home 
one  of  the  largest  size  on  my  shoulder  from  a  dis- 
tance of  seAeral  miles  :  and  before  long  she  could 
discourse  as  melodious  music  as  any  in  th(^  settle- 
ment. 

In  the  early  i)jitt  of  my  pioneer  iife,  like  others,  1 
had  to  cut  browse  for  my  cow.  One  evening  I  went 
out  and  felled  a  tn^e.  thiid^ing  it  would  certainly  fall 
west,  but  alas  for  my  sagacity,  it  fell  east  striking 
our  house,  bi-eaking  down  about  half  the  j-oof  and 
alarming  me  greatly  for  the  safety  of  my  family. 
However  no  one  was  hurt  except  by  being  badly 
fi'igliten(Ml.  The  i-oof  was  easily  repaii-ed,  but  a  iin<' 
niirroi'.  a  very  c^legant  one  for  a  new  countiy.  wliich 
Miy  wife's  father,  who  was  a  seaman,  had  biought 
from  Hamburgh,  in  Euro])e.  was  bioken  into  frag- 
ments, and  could  not  be  repaired. 

During  the  cold  seasons  many  of  the  settlers  suf- 
fered for  the  necessaries  of  life,  but  hap])ily  for  me 
and  mine  we  did  not  suffer.  1  went  east  with  m_v 
team  far  enough  to  hnd  all  t]i<' jaovisions  we  needed 
and  brought  home  a  full  su])]>ly  for  all  oui-  n(MN>ssi- 
ties. 

The  fall  of  1S*J4  WMS  a  sad  ])enod  to  me.  My  wife 
died  OctolHM'  ^Oth  of  this  3'ear. 

T  desire  lici-c  to  recoi-d  mvsxrateful  sense  of  the  kind- 


140  riONEF.TI    HISTOKY 

iiess  of  our  neighbors  during  ]mr  sickness.  Theii-  at- 
tentions were  timely,  cordial  and  continued.  All 
those  kind  women  then  living  in  the  district  are  dead 
except  Mrs.  Benj.  Foot. 

I  married  my  present  wife,  Elizaheth  Stephens,  in 
Gaines,  March  20th,  1825.  She  was  horn  in  iSIiddle- 
town,  Rutland  comity,  Yt.,  June  20th,  1806. 

We  lel't  our  pioneer  log  house  and  moved  into  our 
present  dwelling  in  1825.  About  tliis  time  the  l)oats 
were  seen  passing  along  in  'Gov.  Clinton's  big 
ditch,'  the  Erie  canal,  on  the  north  border  of  my 
farm,  c(^nnecting  the  great  commercial  and  agricultu- 
ral interests  of  our  ctmntry.  And  I  trust  that  our  nat- 
ural and  artilicial  channels  of  trade  may  remain 
open,  and  the  love  of  freedom  among  our  ])eople  con- 
tinue to  aid,  with  the  blessing  of  Uod,  to  preserve  and 
perpetuate  our  nationality,  restore  the  Union  of  these 
Statey  and  the  free  institutions  of  our  country. 

In  1825  I  experienced  religion,  and  about  1829  my 
wife  and  myself  connected  ourselves  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  in  wliose  communion  we  still 
remain. 

JONATHAN  CLARK." 

Barrc,  April  7th,  1804. 

OLIVKi:     HEN'l'OX, 

Oliver  Benton  was  born  in  Ashheld,  Mass.,  Aprd 
10th,  1791.  lie  came  to  Barre  to  reside  in  1812.  He 
married  Elvira  Starr,  May  15th,  3817.  Mr.  Benton 
took  n\)  a  large  tract  of  land  two  miles  south  of  Al- 
bion, on  which  he  resided. 

After  the  town  of  Barn^  was  organized,  and  about 
1818  or  '19  the  tirst  postoffice  in  the  town  was  estab- 
lished and  called  Barre,  and  Mr.  Benton  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster,  an  office  he  held  many  }'ears. 

For  many  yt^ars  he  was  a  noted  tavern  keeper  on 
the  Oak  Orchai-d  Iload,  and  as   he  had  a  large  and 


OK    OKLKANS     ( OUNTY.         •  141 

oomraodiouslioTisr  for  the  times,  town  meetings,  balls 
and  gatlierings  of  the  people  we«e  held  at  his  honse. 
On  the  death  of  AVilliam  Lewis,  who  wns  the  lirst 
Sheriff,  Mr.  Benton  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Orleans  co. 
Nov.  182n,  and  lield  the  offi<'«^  three  years.  He  died 
Feb.  r2th,  1848. 

MosKs  s:\rn'ir. 

Moses  Sndth  was  born  in  Newburg,  New  York, 
F<'bruary  0th,  1785.  Tie  married  Chloe  Dickinson,  of 
Phelps,  New  York,  April  Jltli,  1811,  and  moved  to 
Barre,  Orleans  coimty,  Nov.  l(3th,  1824,  and  took  a 
deed  from  the  Holland  (^>mpany  of  a  part  of  lot  two, 
townsliip  fifteen,  range  one.  on  which  lie  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death  May  16th,  1869.  He  had  four- 
teen children,  eight  of  whom  survived  him.  He  was 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  T)ut  the  main  occu- 
pation of  his  life  was  farming. 

He  was  of  Scotch  des(;ent.  His  grandmother  emi- 
grated from  Scotland  and  settled  on  what  is  known 
in  liistor}'  as  the  Hasbrouck  place,  in  the  South  part 
of  tli(?  city  of  Newburgh,  on  two  hundred  and  Miy 
acres.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Moses  Smith  was  born,  and 
on  this  farm  stands  the  celebrated  building  known  as 
'*  Wasliington* s  Headquarters."' 

AXTITOXY    TRIPP. 

Anthony  Tripj)  was  born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Is- 
land, In  his  childhood  he  removed  with  his  father"  s 
family  to  ('olumT)ia  county.  N.  Y..  where  he  grew 
up  to  manhood,  was  mairied  and  settled.  He  after- 
terwards  removed  to  Delaware  county.  A^hel'e  he  re- 
sided until  he  moved  to  Barre. 

In  1811  he  cauie  to  Barre  and  took  up  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  about  two  miles  South  of  Albion.  It 
is  claimed  this  wns  the  first  article  foi-  land  issued  by 


142  PIOXEKIi   JUS  TORY 

tlie  HullMiid  C'onijxuiy  in  Barre.  The  wai-  ])reakiiig 
«ut  next  year  lie  did  not  settle  on  liis  land. 

In  1817  his  eldest  son,  Sanmel,  conimenced  clear- 
ing this  land  and  l)uilt  a  log  house  there,  into 
which  Mr.  Tripp  moved  with  his  family  in  1824,  and 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  dt^ath. 

He  married  Mar}'  Brown.  Their  children  were 
Samuel;  Talitlia,  who  married  Sylvester  Patterson; 
Stephen  R.,  who  married  Ruth  Mott ;  Anthony  ;  Al- 
rah,  who  married  Jane  II.  Blakely.  She  was  killed 
January,  180G,  by  a  chimney  and  battlement  from  an 
adjoining  building  falling  through  the  roof  of  a  storc^ 
in  Albion,  in  which  she  was  trading,  crushing  hei'  to 
death.  Mary,  who  married  Psaltei-  S.  Mason.  Al- 
ineron,  wlio  marri(>d  Sylvia  Burns. 

aj.lp:x  I'oin'Eii. 

Allen  Porter  was  born  in  Fraidvlin  county.  Mass., 
Ang.  24th,  1795.  He  married  Electa  Scott,  i)ec.  22d, 
1819.  In  the  fall  of  ISlo  he  located  for  himself  a 
tarni  in  the  town  of  Barre.  upon  which  lie  removed 
in  March,  1816,  and  commenced  felling  the  trees,  and 
on  which  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Porter  came  in,  not  more  than  fif- 
teen families  had  settled  in  the  i)resent  limits  (^f 
Barre. 

Previous  to  this  time  tlip  Holland  ('om])any  had 
t'ut  out  the  road  from  the  Oak  Orchard  Koad  to  Shel- 
by Center,  which  now  passes  the  County  Poor  House. 
A  few  lots  had  been  taken  but  no  dwelling  had  been 
erected  on  the  road  so  cut  out  in  Barre  and  no  set- 
tlement had  been  made  in  this  town  south  of  tlie  Pooi- 
House  Road  and  west  of  the  Oak  Oichard  Road. 

Mr.  Porter  remembers  hauling  wheat  raiseil  (jn  Jiis 
farm,  to  Rochester,  and  selling  it  there  for  thirty-one 
rents  a  bushel,  and  paying  live  dollars  pei-  barrel  for 


OF  OILLKA.XS    COirNTV.  143 

■salt,  st'vt'iitcpii  cents  jxt  })()ini(I  for  nails,  and  other 
^•oocLs  ill  like  pro])ortio]i. 

Wliilo  Mr.  Porter  was  a  \k)\  Jiis  fatliei-  removed  to 
Seneca  county,  X.  Y.  Allen  being  yet  in  liis  niinoii- 
ty  was  drafted  in  tlie  war  of  1812  and  sent  to  the 
frontie]-.  He  Nolunteered  at  Bult'alo  to  go  over  into 
Canada  to  reinforce  our  troops  in  Fort  Erie,  and  was 
present  in  the  sortie  from  that  Fort  in  Sept.  1814.  Mr. 
Porter  has  held  vjirious  offic(^s,  civil  and  military,  and 
is  a  well  known  and  much  res])ected  citi/en. 

Kl.J/rit    IlAK'l'. 

Klizu!"  Hart  was  born  in  Durham,  (Treeiie  county, 
^^  Y.,  May  28d,  J8(>:!.  His  father,  I)ea.  Joseph  Hart, 
removed  to  Seneca  county,  X.  Y'..  in  1806.  and  to 
Barre,  Orh'ans  county,  in  October,  1812.  It  was  sev- 
eral years  after  he  came  to  Jiarre.  Ix'fore  any  scliool 
was  o2)ened  in  his  father's  neighborhood,  and  he 
never  had  the  lieiietit  of  mucli  instruction  in  school. 
Wliih-  j-esiding  with  liis  father  he  was  employed 
mainly  in  dealing  uji  land  and  in  ]al)or  on  the  farm, 
and  grew  u])  to  manhood  as  other  boj^s  did  in  that 
new  country,  without  much  knowledge  of  books  oi- 
business,  or  of  the  world  beyond  the  community 
where  he  lived. 

About  the  year  1827  lie  was  elected  nonstable,  an 
office  he  held  two  Aears.  His  business  now  called 
him  to  spend  much  of  his  time  in  Albion.  He  had 
iibout  five  hundred  dollars  in  mon(\>'.  His  brother 
AVilliam  had  a  like  sum  wliieh  he  ])ut  into  Elizurs 
hands  to  use  for  their  Joint  beiielit.  Kli/ur  began  to 
buy  small  promissory  notes  and  to  L'lid  small  sums 
to  smdi  customers  as  applied,  and  sometimes  to  re- 
lieve debtors  in  executicms  which  weic  put  in  his 
liands  to  collect  as  constable. 

About  this  time  his  father  deeded  to  his  sons  Wil- 
liam   and  Kli/ur    diic  hundred   acres    of  liis  farm  for 


144  PIONKKH    IIISTOHY 

wliicli  tlu-y  })aitl  him  live  Imiidred  dollars.  They  con- 
tiniied  joint  owners  several  years  when  William  gave 
Kliziir  tlie  fiv«^  hiindi'ed  dollars  he  had  ])nt  into  his 
hands  and  all  th(^  profit  he  had  niad*^  on  it  for  a  d<'ed 
of  the  whole  on<'  hundred  acres  to  himself.  This 
hind  lies  in  th<'  village  of  Alhion  :  is  still  owned  and 
o(M'iij)ied  l>y  Wm.  Hart,  and  the  ris(^  in  its  valne  has 
made   him  a  wealtliy  man. 

As  Mr.  Hart  fonnd  his  means  increase  lie  began  to 
invest  in  bonds  and  mortgages,  and  in  articles  for 
land  issued  by  tlie  Holland  Compan}^  He  seldom 
lost  but  generall}'  made  money  in  all  his  trades,  and 
(*ontiniied  this  business  for  many  years. 

In  1852  he  was  made  an  assignee,  and  in  a  year  or 
two  after  receiver  of  the  property  of  the  Orleans 
I nsui'Miice  Company.  And  on  the  failure  of  the  old 
Hank  of  Orleans  he  was  a])2)ointed  receiver  of  that 
institution. 

On  February  ](»th,  1800,  in  company  with  Mr.  Jos. 
M.  (Cornell  lie  established  'Th«^  Orleans  County 
Bank'  at  Albion,  with  a  capital  of  §100,000.  Of  this 
l^ank  he  was  President  as  long  as  it  exist<Hl.  When 
all  State  Banks  were  superseded  b}-  National  Banks, 
he  changed  his  institution  and  organized  '  The  Or- 
leans County  National  Bank  '  in  its  stead  Aug.  Otli, 
.\Si5r),  of  which  he  was  President  the  rcMiiainper  of 
of  his  life. 

Mr.  Hart  was  not  a  speculator  in  business,  advan- 
cing money  in  uncertain  ventures  and  taking  the 
chances  on  their  success.  His  investments  were  the 
n'sults  of  careful  calculations,  and  usually  returned 
tile  profit  he  had  computed  before  hand. 

Alwa3\s  attentive  to  his  business,  but  never  dilatory 
or  im])ulsive,  correct  and  exemplary  in  all  his  habits, 
beginning  with  comparatively  nothing,  without  tlie 
aid  or  iiiHiK'nce  of  wealthy  connections,  lie  becanu^ 
one  of  the  opulent  country  bankeis  in  the  State,  and 


OF  OKLKAN.S    COFXTY.  145 

at  liis  deatli  was  master  of  a  fortune  aiiionntin.u' 
to  liiindreds  of  tiioiisands  of  dollars. 

Ill  his  will  he  gave  the  Presbyterian  Cliuich  in  Al- 
hion,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars to  build  a  house  of  worship,  and  an  endowment 
of  five  thousand  dollars  to  the  Sunday  Scho61  con- 
nected with  his  church. 

Mr.  Hart  niarrioxl  Miss  Loraine  Field  in  Ma}',  1835.' 
She  died  Feb.  lltli,  1847.  He  married  Miss  Cornelia 
King,  Oct.  16th,  1849. 

His  surviving-  children  are  Frances  E.,  who  married 
Oliver  C.  Day,  and  resides  in  Adrian.  ^-lichigan. 
Jennie  K.  and  E.  Kirk  ;  th(^  last  named  married  Lou- 
isa Sanderson  and  resides  in  Albion,  is  Cashier  and 
principal  owner  of  the  Oi'leans  County  I^ational  Bank. 

Elizur  Hart  died  August  13th,  1870. 

.1  All  VIS    :\I.    SKINXEIl. 

'-I  was  l)orn  in  Providence,  Saratoga  Co.,  Is',  Y., 
June  3,  1790.  I  married  Mary  Delano,  Veh.  14,  1822. 
She  was  born  in  Providence,  Dec.  2o,  1800. 

I  labored  on  a  farm,  of  which  my  father  had  a  lease-, 
in  the  summer  season,  and  with  my  father  in  the  win- 
ter, a  part  of  the  time,  in  his  shop,  making  saddles, 
and  harness,  lie  being  a  saddler  by  trade. 

When  I  became  of  age,  I  hired  out  to  work  on  a 
farm  for  Earl  Stimson,  then  a  large  farmer  in  Gal  way, 
iirst  eight  months,  at  $11  a  month,  then  a  yi.'ar  for 
iSllO.  My  wages  for  this  work,  deducting  my  clotli- 
ing  bills,  constituted  all  my  capital. 

On  the  18th  da}'  of  March,  1822,  I  started  for  th*^ 
Holland  Purchase,  and  came  alone  to  Durfee  Delano's, 
a  little  west  of  Eagle  Harbor,  in  Gaines. 

I  bought  lifty-hve  acres  of  land  of  Winsor  Painf\ 
for  which  I  agreed  to  give  him  i^250 — $100  down,  my 
liorse,  saddle  and  bridle,  for  $80,  and  $70  worth  of 
saddles,  to  be  delivered  in  a  year. 


146  PIONEER  HISTORY 

1  worked  on  my  place  until  the  next  fall  ;  Mrs. 
Paine  did  my  washing  and  cooking  and  I  furnished  a 
portion  of  the  provisions.  I  chopped  and  cleared  and 
sov^ed  with  wheat,  six  acres  ;  raised  one  acre  of  spring 
wlieat,  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn.  I  returned  to 
Saratoga  in  the  fall,  made  the  saddles  in  the  winter, 
to  pay  for  my  farm,  and  in  January  1823,  moved  mj 
wife  to  our  new  home  in  Barre,  where  we  have  since 
resided,  on  lot  33,  township  15,  range  2. 

Dated,  Dec.  1, 1863.  JARVIS  M.  SKINNER." 

NATHANIEL   BRALEY. 

\Vas  "born  in  Savoy,  Berkshire  Co.,  Massachusetts, 
Dec.  14,  1796.  He  has  alwaj's  followed  farming.  He 
came  to  Palmyra  in  1801,  settled  in  Gaines,  Orleans 
Co..  X.  Y.,  in  1819,  married  Sarah  Wickham  in  1821. 
She  was  born  in  Chatham,  Columbia  Co.,  July  lo, 
1799,  and  removed  to  Gaines  in  1816. 

Mr.  Braley  removed  to  Barre,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, in  1838. 

LUCIUS   STREET. 

"I  vv'as  borii  in  AVest  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
Dec.  19,  1795.  My  father  gave  me  a  good  common 
school  education  for  those  times  and  brought  me  up 
in  his  occupation,  as  a  farmer. 

I  followed  the  business  of  teaching  school  for  sever- 
al Avinters,  when  I  was  a  young  man. 

TJay  5,  1818,  my  brother  Cliapin  and  myself  started 
from  my  father's  house  in  Hinsdale,  Mass.,  on  foot, 
vAth  knapsacks  on  our  backs,  for  the  'Genesee' 
country. 

After  going  to  Batavia  and  looking  over  the  towns 
of  Orangeville  and  China,  we  came  to  Barre  and  set- 
tied  on  lot  3,  township  14,  range  2,  of  the  Holland 
Purchase,  about  two  miles  south  of  Barre  Center 
whei-e  we  still  reside,  (1864.) 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  ]  47 

We  took  our  a,rticle  for  our  land,  May  18,  1818,  and 
'immediately  began  chopping,  boarding  witli  a  family 
named  Cutlibret. 

I  taught  a  district  school,  in  all,  seven  winters,  and 
singing  school  two  terms. 

One  of  our  neighbors,  Henry  Edgerton,  a  strong, 
athletic  man,  carried  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  wheat  on 
'his  back,  to  Farwell's  mill,  in  Clarendon,  eight  miles, 
got  it  ground  and  brought  it  home. 

In  the  fall  of  1820,  my  brother  and  myself,  having 
partially  recovered  from  fever  and  ague,  from  which 
we  had  suifered,  and  getting  somewhat  homesick, 
'Went  on  foot  back  to  Mass.,  being  quite  discouraged 
at  the  prospect  of  ever  paying  for  our  land,  as  the 
price  of  produce  was  so  low.     We  wanted  to  sell  out. 

Finding  no   opportunity   to   sell   our  articles,   we 
•worked   out  for  farmers  in  Massachusetts  the  next 
season,  at  $8  a  month,  then  the  common  wages,  and 
returned  to  Barre,  in  the  fall  of  1821,  to  sell  our  im- 
provements, but  found  no  buyers. 

We  had  agreed  to  give  six  dollars  an  acre  for  our 
■'land,  on  ten  years'  time — the  first  two  years  without 
•interest.  At  this  time,  wheat  was  worth  in  Rochester 
■from  thirty-one  to  thirty-seven  cents  a  bushel. 

While  I  was  teaching  school  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
in  1821,  I  saw  Esq.  Brewster  of  Riga,  Monroe  Co.,  N. 
'Y.,  who,  with  one  of  his  neighbors,  had  come  there 
from  Riga,  with  two  large  loads  of  flour,  drawn  by 
four  yoke  of  oxen.  The  flour  sold  for  $5  a  barrel. — 
They  sold  their  ox(,^n  and  Genesee  sleds,  bought  a 
span  of  horses  and  an  old  sleigh  and  returned  to  Riga. 

In  the  summer  of  1822,  I  boarded  with  Mr.  Edger- 

.ton,  and  worked  two  days  of  every  nine  for  him,  to 

pay  my  board.     That  season  I  cleared,  fenced  and 

sowed  ten  acres  with  wheat,  from  which  next  season 

.1  harvested  25o  bushels  of  o:ood  wheat.     The  canal 


148  I'lOTs^EEIl   IIISTOKY 

being  then  navigable  west  as  far  as  Brockport,  1 
conld  sell  my  wheat  there  for  $1  a  bushel. 

My  brother  and  myself  divided  our  land,  giving  me 
109  acres.  I  then  abandoned  the  intention  of  selling, 
and  NoA'.  10,  1823,  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  M. 
Buckland,  daughter  of  John  A.  Buekland,  of  South 
Barre. 

In  those  days  we  were  required  Iw  law  to  '•irain^ 
as  soldiers,  two  days  in  each  year,  viz :  on  the  first 
Monday  in  June  and  September,  company  training, 
and  one  day  for  a  general  muster,  which  was  often 
held  at  Oak  Orchard  Creek.  ^Ye  were  often  called 
to  meet  at  Oak  Orchard  and  made  the  journey,  10 
miles,  on  foot,  carrying  our  gun  and  equipments  and 
paying  our  own  expenses.  We  would  drill  until 
near  night,  then  on  being  dismissed,  return  home  the 
same  day,  if  indeed  we  Avere  able  to  reach  home  be- 
fore the  next  morning. 

In  the  early  times  in  this  countr}^,  inspectors  of 
Common  Schools  were  allowed  no  comxjensation  for 
their  services,  the  honor  of  the  office  being  deemed 
sufficient  remuneration.  After  serving  the  town  in 
that  office  several  years  gratis,  Dr.  J.  K.  Brown  and 
I  agreed  and  declared  to  the  electors,  that  if  ap- 
pointed to  that  office  again  we  would  pay  our  fines  of 
$10  and  thus  relieve  ourselves  of  the  service,  where- 
upon the  town  voted  to  give  us  seventy-five  cents  each 
per  da}^,  for  the  time  we  might  be  on  duty. 

Under  circumstances  like  these,  not  as  many  were 
seeking  the  small  town  offices  then  as  now. 

Bears,  wolves,  wild  cats,  deer,  raccoons,  hedge 
hogs  and  othcM-  w^ild  animals,  were  2:)lenty  here  then. 

In  the  summer  of  1818,  my  brother  and  I  be- 
ing at  work  chopping  on  our  farm,  heard  a  hog 
squeal,  and  saw  a  b(\ar  walking  off  very  deliberatel}^ 
carrying  tlie  hog  in  his  j^aws.  We  gave  chase  and  as 
we  came  near,  the  bear  dropped  his  prey  and  ran  off; 


OF   OKLEANS   COrNTY.  149 

he  liad  killed  the  hog.  We  then  made  'a  dead  fall,' 
as  it  was  called,  in  wliich  to  entrap  the  bear,  which 
was  a  pen  made  l)}^  driving  stakes  into  the  ground, 
and  interweaving  them  with  brusli  horizontally,  in 
which  the  hog  was  placed.  Into  this  pen  we  expect- 
ed the  bear  would  come  and  spring  a  traj),  which 
would  let  a  weight  fall  upon  him.  It  proved  a  suc- 
cess, for  in  the  morning  we  found  the  bear  in  the  pen  ; 
he  had  sprung  the  trap,  and  a  spike  of  the  dead  fall 
through  his  leg  held  him  fast. 

Religious  meetings  were  early  establislied  and 
maintained  at  South  Barre  and  Barre  Center.  Dea- 
con Orange  Starr  was  among  the  foremost  in  these 
meetings. 

Many  pleasant  reminiscences  of  pioneer  life  might 
be  mentioned,  for  though  we  endured  many  hard- 
ships and  privations,  we  had  plenty  of  sport  mingled 
with  them,  giving  ns  a  pleasant  variety  of  mirthful 
enjoyment.  Major  Daniel  Bigelow,  being  a  good 
horseman,  and  having  no  horse,  broke  one  of  his  ox- 
en to  the  saddle,  and  was  accustomed  to  ride  him 
through  the  settlement. 

Riding  out  one  day,  his  ox  being  very  thirsty  and 
coming  near  a  large  puddle  of  water,  started  forward 
to  the  drink  on  double-quick  time,  and  iDlunging  into 
the  water,  stopped  so  suddenly  as  to  throw  his  good- 
natured  rider  over  his  head,  sprawling  into  tlie  mnd, 
much  to  the  amusement  of  those  looking  on. 

I  am  a  descendant,  on  my  mother's  side,  of  the 
seventh  generation,  from  Samuel  Chapin,  an  early  pi- 
oneer of  Springfield,  Mass.,  who  settled  there  when 
only  three  families  were  in  the  place.  At  a  gathering 
of  his  descendants  at  Springfield,  on  Sept.  17,  1862, 
fifteen  hundred  such  descendants  were  present.  Dr. 
J.  Gr.  Holland,  known  as  'Tinioth}'  Titcomb,'  deliver- 
ed a  poem  on  the  occasion,  wliich  he  said  he  was  re- 


150  PIONEER   HISTORY 

quested  to  do  because  lie  had  married  into  the  Chapin  *. 

family. 

I  am  also  descended  in  the  sixth  generation  on  my 

father's  side,  from  Rev.  Nicholas  Street,   who  came - 

from  England  and  was  ordained  pastor  over  the  tirst 

church  in  New  Haven,  in  1659. 

LUCIUS  STREET." 
Dated,  Barre,  Feb.  25,  1804. 

THOMAS    W.    ALLIS, 

Extracts  from  the  local  history  of  Thomas  W.  Allis. , 
written  by  himself  for  the  Pioneer  Association. 

''I  was  born  in  Gorham,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.- 
1,  1798.     My  father  died  in  the  year  1805,  and  I  was 
brought  up  from  that  time  until  I  attained  my  major- 
ity, in  the  family  of  an  uncle,  in  Hampshire,  Mass. 

In  March,  1820,  in  company  with  a  younger  broth- 
er, I  moved  to  Murra}',  in  Orleans  County,  to  what  is 
now  the  town  of  Kendall. 

^Ve  brought  with  us  four  barrels  of  tlour,  one  bar- 
rel of  pork,  one  barrel  of  whisky  and  a  bed. 

"We  located  three  and  one-fourth  miles  north  of  the  ■ 
Ridge  road,  and  on(3  mile  east  of  the  Transit  Line. 

In  going  from  the  Ridge  to  our  place,  we -passed- 
Ijut  one  family  and  they  lived  in  a  log  house,  in  the 
woods,  with  no  plastering  between  the  logs,  with  only ' 
part  of  the  ground  covered  by  a  floor,  a  bark  roof,  no 
chimney. 

We  liired  our  })rovisions  cooked,  and  lived  with  a 
family  near  by,  in  a  log  cabin  similar  to  the  one 
above  described. 

We  bought  a  contract  for  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  by  the  terms  of  which  we  agreed  to  pay  8300 
for  the  improvements,  and  $G00  for  the  soil. 

We  kept  bachelor's  hall  there  most  of  the  tinu^  for 
four  years. 

I  soon  bought  iifty  acres  more  of  land,  witli  six 
acres  improvement  on  it,  for  Avhicli  T  agived  to  pay 


OF  OKLEANS    COUNTY.  151 

8450.  But  few  families  were  then  north  of  the  Ridge, 
in  tliat  section  of  country, 

I  worked  at  clearing  land  and  raising  crops. 
Wheat  was  worth  only  three  shillings  per  bushel,  de- 
livered in  Rochester. 

The  first  plow  in  our  settlement,  I  bought  in  com- 
pany with  two  neighbors.  Vie  walked  to  Gaines 
village,  bought  one  of  Wood's  patent  plows  and  car- 
ried it  on  our  backs  from  the  Ridge  road  three  ar.d 
one-fourth  miles  to  our  home. 

I  was  married  Nov.  18,  1824,  to  Miss  Elizab^ili 
Clements,  of  Queensbury,  Warren  Co.  N.  Y. 

On  the  9th  of  Januar}^,  1826,  my  house  was  burned 
with  all  my  furniture  and  clothing  and  one  yeais" 
provision.  Our  neighbors  turned  out  and  drew  logs 
and  rolled  up  part  of  a  house,  but  a  snow  storm  came 
on  and  stopped  the  work  before  it  wa?  finished.  ]My 
brother  and  myself  afterwards  built  a  log  house,  com- 
mencing on  Thursday  at  noon,  built  a  stone  chimney, 
linished  and  moved  into  it  the  next  Saturday'.  Siz«^ 
of  the  house  was  sixteen  b}"  thirteen  feet.  We  liv^^d 
in  this  small  house  about  two  years  and  then  I  finish- 
ed the  house  which  had  been  begun  by  my  n(,^ighbors 
soon  after  the  hre. 

I  resided  in  the  house  last  built  about  fourteen 
years. 

I  paid  interest  on  the  purchase  money,  for  the  fiTut 
liundred  acres  I  bought,  to  about  the  amount  of  th.e 
])rincij)al  before  I  took  a  deed. 

I  afterwards  bought  fifty-three  acres  for  8450,  for 
which  T  paid  with  the  avails  of  one  crop  of  vv'heat. 

In  1887  I  bought  a  timber  lot  of  48  acres. 

In  1840  I  built  a  frame  house,  thirty  hy  sev(>iity 
iWi,  which  cost  me  82,000. 

In  March,  1860,  I  sold  my  farm  in  Kendall,  pait  <  t 
which  I  had  held  for  fort}^  3'ears,  and  bouglit  a  hor.t:<^ 


152  rroxEER  iiistoky 

jind  fifteen  acres  of  land  in  Albion,  on  wliicli  I  now 
reside. 

THOMAS  AV.  ALLIS." 
Albion,  Jiiniiaiy,  iyG3. 

Mr.  T.  AY.  Allis,  above  referred  to,  was  for  many 
3'ears  one  of  the  solid  men  of  the  town  of  Kendall, 
li onored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  held  various  other 
town  offices.  Having  acquired  a  competenc}^,  b}' 
many  years'  stead}'  toil  and  economy,  he  retirecl  from 
liard  labor  on  a  farm,  to  a  village  i-esidence,  where  he 
is  now  (1871)  spending  a  quiet  old  age,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  fruits  of  his  labors. 

J0S]':PII    nAEKElt, 

Extracts  from  the  local  history  of  Col.  Joseph  Bar- 
]cer,  written  by  himself. 

"  I  was  born  m  Tadmorden,  Lancashire,  England, 
September  21st,  1802,  and  emigrated  with  m}^ father's 
family  to  America  in  the  spring  of  181G.  I  arrived  in 
the  town  of  Seneca,  Ontario  county,  in  July  of  that 
year,  and  resided  there  until  I  bought  the  farm  in 
Barre,  in  N^ovember,  1825,  on  which  I  now  reside.  I 
was  married  in  October,  182^,  to  Miss  Submit  Cowles, 
wiio  was  born  in  Heath,  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, by  whom  I  had  nine  children.  My  wife  died 
February  loth,  IS.ll.  I  lived  a  widower  two  and  a. 
half  years,  and  then  married  widow  Elizabeth  Gruern- 
:sey,  who  was  born  in  Micldleburgh,  Schoharrie  Co,. 
Xl  Y.,  March  IDth,  1810. 

In  tlie  fall  of  1819,  I  started  with  another  man  from 
Seneca,  N.  Y.,  to  go  to  Lundy's  Lane,  in  Canada, 
\Ye  traveled  on  foot  with  knapsacks  on  our  backs. 
Passing  through  Rochester,  then  a  small  town  and 
very  muddy,  we  took  the  Ridge  Road,  then  tliinl}* 
settled.  Before  Ave  arrived  at  Hartland  Corners  our 
provisions  gave  out  ;  we  tried  to  buy  some  bread ; 
could  get   no]i(^  ;  then   tried  l)egging,  with  no   better 


OF    OKLEANS    COUIS^TY.  153 

success.  AVe  went  on  to  Buck's  tavern  in  the  Eleveii 
Mile  Woods.  It  v/as  very  dark  when  we  got  tliere 
and  i-ained  very  hard.  We  had  not  a  dry  thread  in 
our  clotlies,  and  our  shoes  and  stockings  were  full  of 
mud  and  water.  Buck's  tavern  was  a  log  house  A\ith 
a  Dutch  lire  place,  and  had  a  good  rousing  fire.  Af- 
ter taking  some  riwi  and  supper,  we  hung  our  outer 
garments  uj)  to  dry  and  went  to  bed.  The  next  morn- 
ing we  started  earl}^,  and  after  getting  through  the 
woods,  I  went  into  a  house  and  bought  six  pence 
worth  of  bread  Avhich  lasted  us  through  to  Lundy's 
Lane.  We  stayed  there  three  weeks  and  returned 
home. 

In  September,  1828, 1  set  out  to  look  me  up  a  farm: 
came  b}'  way  of  Batavia,  and  through  the  Indian 
Reservation  to  a  place  now  called  Alabama  Center. 
and  took  up  sixty  acres  of  land  lying  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  that  place.  I  chopped  the 
trees  on  about  one  acre,  when  finding  iialf  of  my  lot 
was  swamp  I  felt  sick  of  it  and  left  for  home,  where  I 
sta3^ed,  working  out  until  the  fall  of  1825,  then  start- 
ed again  and  bought  the  place  on  which  I  have  ever 
since  resided  in  Barre,  lot  fifty-four,  townshiii  fourteen, 
range  two. 

I  moved  to  my  place  in  January,  1S2G.  There  was 
a  shanty  on  my  land  witli  a  shingled  roof.  I  got 
ready  to  begin  work  about  February  1st,  and  meas- 
ured oft'  ten  acres  of  woods  for  ni}^  next  year's  work 
to  chop,  clear,  fences  and  sow  with  wheat ;  all  of 
which  I  did,  sowing  the  last  of  my  wheat  in  October. 
The  reason  of  my  being  so  late  sowing  wheat  was, 
my  wife  was  taken  sick  soon  after  harvest.  I  could 
get  no  girl  to  work  and  I  was  obliged  to  take  care  of 
my  sick  wife  and  do  all  my  work  in  doors,  and  out  of 
doors.  I  had  to  milk,  churn,  work  butter,  wash  and 
iron  clothes,  mix  and  bake  bread,  and  in  fact  do  all 
there  was  to  be  done.     I  worked  on  my  fallow  days 


154  I'lOXEER   HISTORY 

and  nights  wlieiiever  I  could  leave  my  sick  wife.  At 
last  I  hired  a  girl,  but  she  stayed  with  ns  onl}^  four  or 
five  days,  and  I  then  had  to  do  housework  again. 
My  wile  recovered  so  as  to  be  about,  the  forepart  of 
October. 

I  woiked  out  some  tlie  next  winter  to  get  potatoes  to 
eat  and  to  plant  and  to  pay"  my  doctor' s  bill.  I  bought 
four  small  pigs  in  the  summer,  and  beachnuts  being 
plenty  they  grew  finely  and  when  killed  weighed 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  apiece.  The 
pork   was  i-ather  soft  but  tasted  good. 

The  second  winter  I  cli02:)ped  about  seven  acres. 
The  weather  was  line,  but  on  tlie  night  of  April  13tli, 
the  wind  blowing  a  fearful  gale  while  we  were  snugly 
in  bed,  took  the  roof  off  our  shantj^  leaving  us  in  bed, 
but  with  iieither  roof  or  chamber  floor  in  our  house. 
I  got  up  and  x^ut  out  the  lire;  we  put  on  our  clothes 
and.  taking  our  little  girl  went  to  Mr.  Russells,  our 
nearest  neighbor,  about  forty  rods,  where  we  stayed 
until,  with  the  help  of  our  kind  neighbors,  we  got  up 
the  body  of  another  log  house.  In  two  or  three 
weeks  we  had  our  liouse  so  far  made  that  we  moved 
into  it  and  lived  in  it  all  summer  without  a  chimney. 
In  the  fall  I  built  a  Dutch  lire  i)lace  and  a  .y//cZ;  chim- 
ney. 

It  was  about  two  3^ears  after  I  moved  on  my  lot  be- 
fore the  highway  was  chopped  out  either  wiiy,  north 
or  south  from  me.  The  logs  and  underluaish  were 
cut  so  that  we  could  drive  a  team  through.  I 
was  iioor  when  I  came  here  and  I  lived  according  to 
ni}'  means.  One-fourth  pound  of  tea  lasted  us  over 
seven  months.  I  bought  a  barrel  of  pork  and  half  a 
barrel  of  beef,  when  I  got  the  tea,  and  they  were  all 
gone  in  about  tlie  same  time  together. 

We  had  i)lent3*  of  flour  and  some  potatoes.  My 
cow  was  not  used  to  the  woods,  and  sometimes  I  could 
find  her  and  again  I  could  not,  so  sometimes  we  were 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  155 

obliged  to  eat  our  bread  and  potatoes  for  a  meal.  I 
thought  it  rather  dry  living  to  work  hard  on,  but  we 
lived  through  it,  always  hoj^ing  for  "the  better  time 
coming.'' 

The  next  year  I  fatted  three  fine  hogs  and  put  them 
all  down  for  home  use.  The  third  summer  I  liad  over 
20  acres  cleared  and  had  got  to  living  prett}^  comforta 
bl}'.  In  Jul}'  of  tliis  year  I  Avas  elected  Second  Ser- 
geant in  Capt.  Gates  Infantry  Company'  rather  against 
my  wishes.     I  liowever  accejjted. 

In  August  following  I  was  taken  sick  with  fever 
and  ague  whicii  lasted  me  three  months.  I  could  hire 
no  men  to  work  for  me  for  love  or  nione3\  Almost 
everybody  was  sick  this  ^-ear.  Tiie  neighbors  turned 
out  however,  late  in  the  fall  and  sowed  about  six 
acres  with  wheat  for  me,  and  I  hired  a  boy  a  month 
to  husk  corn  and  dig  potatoes.  About  tlie  time  the 
boy  got  througli  w(irk  the  ague  left  me  and  I  was 
pretty  well  all  the  next  winter.  The  next  spring  I 
had  three  fits  of  ague,  then  sores  came  all  over  my 
face.  I  had  no  more  ague  shakes  for  tlie  next  three 
(jr  four  years. 

About  this  time  ni}'  wife  was  taken  sick  with  in- 
fiammation  in  the  bowels  just  at  the  commencement 
of  the  wheat  harvest.  I  had  fourt(M?n  acres  to 
harvest  and  no  one  to  help  me.  I  got  a 
physician  to  attend  my  wife,  and  my  little  girl  and 
myself  nursed  her  as  well  as  we  could  ;  and  when  I 
could  l)e  spared  I  went  to  m}'  harvest  field  and 
worked,  whether  by  day  or  niglit.  Thus  I  harv(^sted 
ni}'  fourteen  a<'r(^s  and  took  care.  oT  my  wife.  Just 
before  I  finished  cutting  my  wheat  however,  I  Avas 
again  taken  vrith  "cliills"  and  began  to  shake,  and 
kept  on  shaking  about  an  hour,  did  not  stop  cradling 
but  wlien  the  fever  came  on  I  had  to  quit  and  steer 
for  the  house  and  had  a  ]ia]-d  time  to  get  there.  I 
liad  tAvo  mort^  fits,    when  uia'  face  brolve  dut    in  so]-es 


15G  J'lOXEKi;    IHSTOKY 

as  former!}^  and  I  had  no  more  fever  and  ague.  ISly 
wife  getting  no  better,  I  went  to  find  a  girl  to  take 
care  of  her,  feeling  I  was  not  able  to  take  proper  care 
of  myself,  much  less  of  lier.  I  traveled  all  day, 
found  plent}-  of  girls  that  wanted  to  go  out  to  spin, 
but  vrould  ]iot  do  housework.  I  went  a  second  and 
third  day  with  like  results,  and  cami^  home  sick 
both  in  body  and  mind,  and  found  my  ^v\i'Q  some  bet- 
ter. I  finall}'  succeeded  in  getting  a  woman  to  help 
until  my  wife  got  able  to  be  about. 

I  kept  chopping  and  clearing  my  land  as  fast  as  I 
could  alone,  for  I  was  not  able  to  hire.  I  changed 
work  occasionally  vrith  my  neighbors,  and  sometimes 
hired  a  day' s  work.  My  crops  were  sometimes  good, 
sometimes  poor ;  but  I  got  along  and  made 
money. 

In  July,  18o3,  I  was  elected  Captain  over  the  Com- 
pany in  which  I  had  served  as  Sergeant  over  four 
years,  and  I  was  afterwards  elected  Colonel.  This 
military  office,  as  ever}'  body  knows,  was  not  a  mone}' 
making  business  in  tliose  days  ;  but  I  had  got  into  it 
and  determined  to  carry  it  through  to  the  best  of  my 
ability.  It  cost  me  much  time  and  mone}',  for  which 
I  received  nothing  back.  I  had  the  honor  of  com- 
manding as  good  a  regiment  as  there  was  in  the  coun- 
ty, and  felt  proud  of  it.  I  did  military  duty  nineteen 
years  ;  eleven  years  as  an  offictM-,  serving  as  a  Cap- 
taiii  bi>fore  I  was  naturalized,  or  a  voter  in  town 
or  State.  I  resigned  all  militaiy  office  A])ril  2()th, 
1839. 

I  have  labored  steadily  as  a  farmer,  (Mijoying  good 
health,  except  ha^■ing  tlu^  ague,  as  I  have  stated,  and 
liad  a^  g'ood  degree  of  ])rosi)ei-ity  attend  my  laboi's. 

JOSEPH  BAIlIvER." 
]\Iarch  i)tli,  1S6.3. 

EXo-^    niCK. 

Enosllice  was  ])()in  in  Conway,  Ilampsiiire  county, 


OF   OULEAXS   (tirXTY.  157 

Massacluisetts.  in   1790,  and  came  with   liis  fatlier's 
family  in  1804,  to  Madison  county,  N.  \ . 

In  June  1810,  witli  a  pack  on  his  back,  lie  came  to 
Ban-e  Orleans  county,  and  located  on  lot  eighteen,  in 
township  fifteen,  van-e  two,  where  he  cleared  ahout 
tw(^nty  acres.  He  next  lived  a  f.^w  years  m  {Shelby, 
and  in  1831  bought  a  farm  near  Porter^  s  Corners, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

Mr  Rice  began  in  the  world  poor,  but  by  persever- 
ino-  industry  ^and  frugality  h.^  has  acquired  a  fan- 
amount  of  property  to  mak(^  his  old  age  comfort- 
able. 

].rTiii:n  i'ohtkk. 
-  My  father  Stpplien  Porter,  was  born  in  Lebanon, 
Connecticut.     Abmit  the  year  1812   or  'IB  he  started 
with  his  wife  and  live  childnm  on  an  ox  sled,  witn  one 
yoke  of  small  oxen  to  come  to   ^  York   btate.      He 
had  but   few   articles  of  furniture   and  but  ^Go  m 
mon(0'.     After   a  Journey  of  twenty-two   days,  with 
^extraordinary  good  luck,  he  landed  in  Smyrna,  Cne- 
nango   countyr  N.    Y.,    with   cash   reduced   to   >5l8 
Hei-e  he  hired  an  old  log   house  in  whidi   he  resided 
one  year.     Tlun  lir  hitched  his  oxen  to   the  old  sled, 
and'  with  his   traps  and  liimily   aboard,  started  for 
Ontario  county.     After  travebng   seven   days,  he  ar- 
rived at  his  place  of  destination  and  hired  a   house 
and  twenty-five  acres  of  land. 

In  th(^  fall  of  1815,  he  took  an  article  from  the  Hol- 
land Land  CompauA-.  of  the  west  hundred  acres  of 
lot  40.  township  14,  range  2,  in  Barre,  the  same  on 
which'  I  now  resid(^  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
west  of  Portei-s  Corners.  In. March  following,  m 
company  with  Allen  Porter,  Samuel  Porter  and  Jo- 
seph Kockwood,  he  started  with  provisions  for  hve 
weeks,  to  make  a  beginning  on  their  lands.  They  es- 
tablished th<>ir  d.^pot  of  provisions  at  the  house  of 


158  piONEEii  iiLvronY 

Dea.  Ebenezer  Rogers,  in  tlif  soutli  part  of  what  is 
now  the  village  of  Albion. 

They  took  what  provisions  the}'  wanted  for  a  week 
on  their  backs,  with  their  axes  and  started  through 
the  woods  to  their  lands,  about  five  miles  away,  the 
snow  being  about  knee  deep. 

The  first  thing  in  order  was  to  select  a  place  to 
build  their  cabin.  The  site  was  fixed  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  J.  AV.  Stocking,  about  twenty  rods 
east  of  where  Stocking's  house  stands.  They  cut  such 
poles  as  they  could  carry  and  built  their  first  cabin 
ten  by  twelve  feet  square,  covered  it  with  split  bass- 
wood  troughs,  got  it  tenable,  and  the  colon}'  moved 
in  and  took  possession  the  same  day.  They  cut  hem- 
lock boughs  and  spread  them  on  the  ground,  covering 
them  with  blankets,  which  made  a  good  bed.  The 
room  not  occupied  by  the  bed  served  for  cvdinary  and 
dining  purposes.  After  thus  preparing  their  house 
they  commenced  chopping  in  earnest,  working  through 
the  week  until  Saturday  afternoon,  when  they  all  re- 
turned to  Mr.  Rogers'  to  spend  the  Sabbath  and  get 
another  weeks'  j^rovisions.  In  this  way  they  worked 
until  they  had  chopped  about  five  acres  each,  when 
they  all  returned  to  Ontario  Co.,  to  spend  the  sum- 
mer. 

In  January,  1820,  my  father  moved  his  famil}'  to 
his  new  home  in  Barre,  where  he  made  a  comfortal^le 
residence  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  died  in  the 
fall  of  1831,  aged  53  years. 

My  father  paid  little  more  than  tlie  interest  on  the 
purchase  money  for  his  land,  while  lie  lived.  It  was 
paid  for  b}'  his  sons  and  has  been  a  home  for  the 
family  ever  since. 

In  the  spring  of  181G  there  was  no  liouse  occupied 
by  a  family  in  Bari-e,  west  of  the  Oak  Orchard  Road, 
on  the  line  on  which  my  father  located,  although  sev- 
eral were  in  process  of  erection.     My  mother  died  on 


^- 


OF  ORLEANS  COUNTY.  159 

tlie  homestead,  Aiignst  1857,  aged  77  years.  I  was 
my  fatlier's  second  son,  and  now  own  and  reside  on 
the  old  premises,  to  whicli  I  have  made  additions  hy 
purchase. 

I  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  in  1805,  and  came  to 
this  county  with  my  father,  in  1820,  being  then  about 
fifteen  3'ears  old. 

I  have  had  abundant  experience  in  pioneer  life.  I 
have  chopped  and  logged  and  cleared  land.  I  boiled 
blade  salts  three  or  four  years,  a  part  of  the  time 
barefoot,  because  my  father  was  too  poor  to  furnish 
me  shoes,  with  little  other  damage  than  the  occasion- 
al loss  of  a  toe  nail,  or  a  small  wound  in  the  foot  from 
sharp  stubs. 

I  have  lived  through  it  all,  and  by  dint  of  economy 
and  industry  have  advanced  from  poverty  to  compe- 
tence. 

I  have  held  various  offices  in  the  gift  of  m}'  fellow- 
citizens.  I  was  Suj)ervisor  of  the  town  of  Barre  from 
1857  to  1862,  five  successive  jenvs. 

There  was  no  school  in  my  neighborhood  for  sever- 
al years  after  1820.  The  first  district  school  house 
built  there  was  erected  at  Sheldon's  Corners.  The 
district  was  afterwards  divided  and  a  log  school 
house  built  about  a  mile  north  of  Ferguson's  Cor- 
ners. Again  the  district  was  divided  and  now  stands 
as  district  No.  12,  with  a  good  school  house. 

I  married  for  my  first  wife,  Lydia  Scoot,  daughter 
of  Capt,  Justin  Scoot,  of  Ontario  County,  Oct.  20, 
1830.  She  died  Dec.  3,  1842.  I  married  for  my  sec- 
ond wife,  Caroline  Culver,  daughter  of  Orange  Culver 
of  South  Barre,  June  27,  1844,  with  whom  I  am  still 

living. 

LUTHER  PORTER." 
Barre,  ]\Iay  27,  18G:J. 

NEIIEMIAII    IN(4EltS0LL. 

Nehemiah  Ingersoll  was  born  in  Stanford,  Dutchess 


IGO  PIONEER   HISTORY 

Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  178C.  In  1816,  he  removed  to  Batavia, 
where  he  remahied  a  jeav  or  two,  then  "bought  a  farm 
in  Elba,  five  miles  north  of  Batavia,  to  Avliich  he  re- 
moved and  where  he  kept  a  public  house  several 
years.  In  April,  1822,  in  company  with  James  P. 
Smith  and  Chillian  F.  Buckley,  he  bought  of  William 
Bradner  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Albion,  bound- 
ed north  by  the  town  of  Gaines ;  west  by  the  Oak 
Orchard  road  ;  south  by  Joel  Bradner' s  farm,  and  ex 
tending  east  one  hundred  rods  from  the  Oak  Orchard 
Road.  For  this  tract  the}'  paid  84,000.  i\Ir.  Inger- 
soll  soon  bought  of  Smith  and  Buckley,  all  their  in- 
terest in  this  land. 

Soon  after  purchasing  this  tract  iSIr.  Ingersoll  had 
a  large  i)art  of  it  surveyed  and  laid  out  into  village 
lots,  believing  a  town  vrould  soon  grow  up.  He 
did  not  immediatel}^  remove  to  Albion  but  did  com- 
mence improving  his  property  there. 

He  and  his  associates  built  the  large  warehouse 
standing  on  the  canal  at  the  foot  of  Piatt  street  and 
a  framed  building  for  a  store  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Canal  streets,  where  the  Empire  block  now 
stands. 

Ingersoll  &  Wells  (^Dudley  Wells)  traded  some 
years  in  this  store,  and  business  Avas  carried  on  in 
the  warehouse  by  Ingersoll  and  Levvis  P.  Buckle^y. 

In  the  struggle  for  the  location  of  the  County  build- 
ings, Mr.  Ingersoll  engaged  with  spirit.  In  competing 
with  the  village  of  Gaines,  he  offered  tlie  commission- 
ers appointed  to  locate  the  Court  House,  the  grounds 
on  which  the  Court  House  now  stands  as  a  free  gift, 
which  offer  was  finally  accepted  and  the  location  thus 
secured  here. 

Early  in  1826  he  removed  to  Ablion  to  reside.  He 
was  prominent  among  those  engaged  in  effecting  the 
organization  of  the  county  of  Orleans  from  the  county 
of  Genesee,  and  in  establishing  all  those  institutions 


OF  OllLEANS  COUNTY.  1  Gl 

required    and    eonseqiient    upon    beginniiio:  a    m-w 
county. 

In  1835,  having  sold  or  contracted  for  the  sale  of  mowt 
of  his  land  in  Albion,  he  removed  to  Detroit  and  en- 
gaged in  large  hnsiness  there,  in  which  he  sustained 
severe  loss  ;  and  in  1845  he  went  to  Lee,  Oneida  county, 
N.  Y.,  at  which  place  he  resided  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Ingersoll  married  in  his  youth  Miss  Polly  Hal- 
sey,  daughter  of  Col.  Nathan  Halse}\  of  Columhia 
county.     She  died  in  1831. 

For  a  second  wife  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  C. 
Brown,  of  Lee  who  survived  him. 

Mr.  Ingersoll  died  February  21,  1868,  aged  eighty- 
two  years.  He  was  naturally  of  a  strong  constitn- 
tion  and  of  an  active  temperament  and  ap- 
peared twenty  3'ears  younger  than  he  was.  Although 
the  later  j^ears  of  his  life  \\ore  spent  awa}'  from  Albion, 
he  was  often  here  and  always  manifested  the  deepest 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  village  and  county  of 
Orleans.  At  his  request  his  remains  were  Ivi-ought  to 
Albion  after  his  decease  and  deposited  besid*:'  liis  first 
wife  in  Mount  Albion  Cemetery. 

His  second  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Ingersoll,  died 
August  17th,  1869.  After  her  marriage,  she  resided 
several  years  in  Albion  and  shared  with  her  hus- 
band in  a  feeling  of  attachment  to  the  place  and  peo- 
ple, wdiich  proved  itself  in  a  generous  gift  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  which  she  made  in  her  will  to  tin; 
Prostestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Albion.  Both  Mr. 
Ingersoll  and  his  wife  were  members  of  that  com- 
munion. 

•Il'STUS   IN(ii:HSOLL. 

Hon.  Justus  Ingersoll  was  born  in  Stanford,  Dutch- 
ess coiinty,  IST.  Y.,  in  1794.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
tanner. 

On  the  br(>aking  out  of  war  with  Gi'eat  Britain,  in 


162  PIONKER   HISTORY 

1812,  he  entered  the  United  States  army  as  ensign  in 
the  twenty -third  regiment  of  infantry.  He  served  on 
the  nortliern  frontier  in  several  engagements,  and  was 
in  the  celebrated  charge  on  Queenstown  Heights.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain  for  meritorious 
service. 

In  one  of  the  battles  in  Canada,  in  which  he  served 
as  Captain  of  Infantry,  he  was  wounded  in  the  foot. 
Refusing  to  leave  his  Company,  and  being  unable  to 
walk,  he  mounted  a  horse  and  continued  with  his 
men.  In  another  engagement  he  was  shot  through 
the  body,  the  ball  lodging  in  a  rib.  He  refused  to 
lia\'e  it  removed,  as  he  was  informed  a  portion  of 
rib  would  have  to  be  cut  away,  which  would  proba- 
bly- causfi  him  to  stoop  ever  after  in  his  gait. 

He  was  a  favorite  with  his  company  and  much  es- 
teemed by  Gen.  Scott  under  whom  he  served. 

In  1818  he  came  to  Elba,  Genesee  county,  N.  Y., 
and  soon  after  settled  at  Shelby  Center,  in  Orleans 
(^ounty,  where  he  carried  on  tanning  and  shoe-mak- 
ing, and  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

After  tlie  canal  was  made  navigable,  and  Medina 
began  to  be  settled  as  a  village,  he  removed  there, 
built  a  large  tannery  and  transfered  his  business 
to  that  place. 

He  was  appointed  Indian  Agent  and  postmaster  at 
^ledina,  by  President  Jackson  ;  he  was  also  Judge 
of  Orleans  County  Courts. 

His  tannery  being  accidental!}'  burned  and  sus- 
taining other  misfortunes  in  business,  he  removed  to 
Detroit  with  his  brother  Nehemiah,  in  1835,  where 
they  went  into  the  leather  business  on  a  large  scale, 
iu  which  they  were  not  finally  successful. 

Mr.  Ingersoll  was  a  man  of  firm  and  persistent 
charactei',  active  and  enteiprising — esteemed  among 
his  acqy.aintances  for  the  u])rightness  of  his  conduct 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  163 

sand  the  courtesy  of  his  manners.     He  died  in  1845. 

LORENZO   BURROWS. 

Lorenzo  Burrows  was    born     in   Groton,     Conn., 

:March  loth,  1805.  In  his  boyhood  he  attended  the 
Academy  at  Plainfield,  Conn,,  and  Westerly,  Rhode 
Island.     In  Nov.,  1824,  he  came  to  Albion,  N.  Y.,  to 

riissist  his  brother,  Roswell  S.  Burrows,  as  his  clerk. 
He  continued   to  act  in  that  capacity  until  in  1826, 

.after  he  attained  his  majority,  he  went  in  company 
with  his  brother  in  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
R.  S.  &  L.  Burrows. 

He  assisted  his  brother  in  establishing  the  Bank  of 
Albion  in  1839,  and  after  it  went  into  operation  he 
was  appointed  Cashier  and  devoted  himself  mainly 
to  the  business  of  the  bank   and  to  the  duties  of  Re- 

•  ceiver  of  the  Farmer's  Bank  of  Orleans,  until  in  No- 
vember, 1848,  he  was  elected  a  Member  of  the  House 

/  of  Representatives  in  Congress,  for  the  District  which 
comprised  Niagara  and  Orleans  counties.  He  was 
re-elected  to  Congress  in  Nov.,  1850,  and  served  in 
that  office,  in  all,  four  years. 

Since  his  election  to  Congress  he  has  done  no  busi- 
ness as  an  officer  of  this  bank. 

He  was  elected  Comptroller  of  the  State  of  New 
York  in  Nov.  1855,  which  office  he  held  one  term  of 
two  yearb\ 

In  Feb.,  1858,  he  was  chosen  a  Regent  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  the  State  of  New  York,  an   office  he  has 

■Jield  ever  since. 

He  was  County  Treasurer  of  Orleans  county  in  the 
year  1840,  and  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Barre  for 
the  year  1845.  He  was  Assignee  in  Bankruptc}'  for 
the  county  of  Orleans,  under  the  law  of  1841.  In 
the  year  1862  he  was  appointed  one   of  the  Conmiis- 

•sioners   of    Mount    Albion   Cemetery— an    office    to 

-which    no    salary    or    ])ecuniary    compensation    is 


164  PIONEEK  HISTORY 

attached,  but  wliicli  is  attended  with  considerable- 
labor.     To  this  labor  he  has  devoted  all  the  time  neces- 
sary,   discharging  the    principal  part    of  the  duties 
of  tlie  Commission,  with  what  success  let  the  beauti- 
ful terraces,  trees,  paths,  walks,  avenues,  roads,  and 
improvements  whicli  adorn  tliis  "city  of  the  dead,"  ~ 
and  which  remain  the  creations  of  his  taste  and  skill, 
bear  witness. 

Since  leaving  Congress  Mr.  Barrows  has  employed, 
himself  principally  in  discharging  the  duties  of  the 
offices  above  mentioned  in  taking  care  of  consider- 
able real  estate  he  owns  in  connection  with  his  broth- 
Qi\  and  in  liis  own  riglit,  in,  or  near  Albion,  and  else- 
wliere  ;  and  in  tlie  enjoyment  of  such  leisure  as  an 
ample  fortune  whicli  he  has  secured  in  ea-ilier 
life  affords,  in  social  intercourse  with  his  family 
and  friends. 

(JEOnOE   E.    MIX. 

'•  I  was  born  in  (Treenlield,  Saratoga  county,  IST.  Y. . 
yiy  fathers  name  was  Abiathar  Mix.  In  May,  1817, 
when  I  was  less  than  one  year  old,  my  father  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  what  is  now  Barre,  Orleans 
county,  ]N^.  Y.  There  I  had  my  bringing  up  and  have 
(^ver  since  resided.  My  Genesee  cradle  was  a  sap- 
trcnigh,  Genesee  school  rooms  were  log  houses,  log 
barns,  and  other  like  accommodations. 

I  stayed  at  home  and  worked  on  the  farm  summers, 
and  went  to  schools  wint(U's  when  I  could,  until  I  was 
•nghteen  years  of  age.  My  father  then  gave  me  my 
time,  saying  he  had  nothing  else  he  could  give  me 
then,  but  that  I  could  make  his  house  my  home. 

After  that  I  worked  by  the  day  and  month  summers^ 
and  attended  school  winters — went  several  terms 'to> 
an  Acad(»my. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-three  I  commenced  teaching, 
district  scliool  and  tau";ht  five  winters  in  succession- 


OF   ORLEAXS    COUJV^Ti'.  165 

During  those  five  years  I  traveled  considerably  in  the 
western  and  southern  States,  and  became  quite  a  rad- 
ical reformer  in  sentiment. 

I  was  nominated  County  Clerk  by  the  Liberty  Par- 
ty but  was  not  elected. 

I  married  Miss  Ellen  De  Bow,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y., 
in  1852. 

I  have  alwa}'s  made  a  living,  and  got  it  honestly  I 
think,  and  have  laid  by  a  little  every  year  for  myself 
-and  others  I  have  to  care  for.  I  never  sued  a  person 
and  never  was  sued.  I  never  lost  a  debt  of  any  great 
.amount,  for  if  a  person  who  owed  me  could  not  pay 
it,  I  forgave  the  debt. 

I  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  when  I  was 
eleven  3'ears  old,  and  several  years  afterwards  united 
with  the  Free  Congregational  Church  in  Gaines  and  re- 
mained a  member  of  that  Church  as  long  as  it  was  in 
being. 

I  never  held  any  civil  office  of  profit.  My  political 
principles  were  not  formerl}'  jjopular  with  the  major- 
ity of  the  people. 

I  held  military  office  in  the  214th  regiment  X.  Y. 
State  militia,  from  1837  to  1844,  and  served  as  ensign, 
lieutenant  and  captain. 

I  have  lived  to  see  slavery  abolished  in  this  coun- 
tr}^.  The  landless  can  now  have  land  if  they  will. 
Now  let  us  drive  licpior  and  tobacco  from  the  coun- 
try. 

GEORGE  E.  MIX." 
Barre,  February  1869. 

•'TIIINCJS    I    CAN    r.iniE.MiJKK." 

BY      GKOUOE      E.       MfX. 

'•I  can  remember  the  dark  and  heavy  forest  that 
-once  covered  this  land,  with  only  now  and  then  a  lit- 
tle '  clearing '  that  made  a  little  hole  to  let  in  the 
.sunsliine  ;  the  large  creeks  tliat  seemed   to  How  and 


166  PIONEER   HISTORY 

flood  the  whole  country  during  a  freshet ;  the   large ' 
swamps   and  marshes,  in  almost  every   valley  ;  the 
wild  deer  that  roamed  the  woods  almost  undisturbed 
hy  men  ;  the  bear  that  plodded  his  wa}^  through  the " 
swamps  and  the  wolf  that  made  night  hideous  with ' 
his  howling, 

I  remember  when  the  roads   ran  crooking  aroundi 
on  the  high  grounds,  and  when  roads  on  the   low 
lands  were  mostly  causeways  of  logs.     When  almost 
all  the  houses  were  made  of  logs,  and  almost  all  the 
chimne^^s  were  made  of  sticks  and  mud,  and  the  fire-  • 
places  were  of  Dutch  pattern. 

But  the  sound  of  the  axman  was  heard  at  his  toil 
through  the  forest,  hurling  the  old  trees  headlong. 
The  woods  and  the  heavens  were  lit  up  with  the  lurid 
glare  of  fire  by  night,  and  the  heavy  forest  sooiii 
melted  away.  Those  little  holes  in  the  old  woods, 
soon  became  enlarged  to  broad  fields  of  waving" 
grain,  that  glistened  in  the  sun  light. 

The  foaming  creeks  soon  became  rivulets,  or  dried 
up.  The  swamps  disappeared  and  nothing  remains 
to  show  where  many  of  the  great  marshes  of  the  old 
time  were.  The  deer,  bear  and  wolf  have  departed. 
The  crooked  I'oads  have  been  straightened,  and  the 
log  causeways  have  been  buried  out  of  sight.  The 
log  houses,  stick  chimneys,  and  Dutch  fireplaces, 
are  reckoned  among  the  things  that  were  and  are  not 
now. 

I  can  remember  when  my  mother  spun  Hax  on  a 
little  wheel  and  carded  wool  and  tow  by  hand  and 
spun  them  on  a  great  wheel  ;  when  she  colored  her 
yarn  with  th(^  bark  and  leaves  (»f  trees  and  had  a 
loom,  and  wove  cloth  and  made  it  up  into  ch)thing 
for  her  family. 

I  can  remember  when  my  father  plowed  with  a 
wooden  plow  with  an  iron  share  and  reaped  his  grain 
with  a  sickle  and  threshed  it   with  a  flail  ;  Avhen  he  • 


;0F   0KLEAN8   COUNTY.  167 

mowed  his  grass  with  a  scythe  and  raked  it  witli  a 
hand  rake.  I  remember  when  no  fruit  grew  here  but 
wild  fruit,  but  we  soon  liad  i)eaches  in  profusion, 
bushels  of  them  rotting  under  the  trees. 

At  the  first  settlement  of  this  county,  fruits,  sucli 
as  grapes,  strawberries,  cranberries,  blackberries, 
gooseberries,  raspberries  and  mandrakes,  were  to  be 
found  growing  wild.  We  had  nuts  from  the  trees, 
such  as  butternuts,  chestnuts,  beachnuts  and  wal- 
nuts. 

Pumpkins,  squashes  and  melons,  were  largelj^ 
raised  and  of  great  value  to  the  people.  Pumpkins 
were  cut  in  strips  and  diied  on  poles  in  the  log 
cabins  and  kept  for  use  the  year  round.  Maple  trees 
furnished,  us  nearly  all  our  sugar.  At  our  fall  par- 
ties and  our  husking  and  logging  bees  we  had  pump- 
kin pies.  At  our  winter  parties  we  had  nuts  and 
popped  corn  and  in  the  summer,  berries  and 
ci'eam. 

I  can  remember  when  the  common  vehicle  for  trav- 
eling about  was  an  ox  sled  with  wooden  shoes  ar.d 
the  only  wheel  carriages  were  lumber  wagons  and 
they  were  few,  when  the  Ridge  Road  was  the  main 
thoroughfare  by  which  to  reach  the  old  settlements 
and  stage  coaches  were  the  fastest  means  of  convey- 
ance. 

It  was  considered  an  impossibility  to  make  the 
Erie  Canal.  People  said  possibly  water  might  be 
made  to  run  up  hill,  but  canal  boats,  nevei-. 

Some  said  they  would  be  willing  to  die.  having 
lived  long  enough  when  boats  in  a  canal  should  tif)at 
through  their  farms  ;  but  afterwards  when  the^^  saw 
the  boats  passing  by,  the}^  wanted  to  live  more  than 
ever  to  see  what  would  be  done  next. 

Next  after  the  canal  came  the  railroad.  I  heard 
the  cars  were  running  at  Batavia  and  I  went  out  there 
to  see  the  great  wonder  of  the  age,  and   saw  them. 


1/58  PIONEEK   HISTORY 

We  were  next  told  of  tlie  telegrapli.  Knowing  ones 
said  that  was  a  liumbug,  sure.  I  remember  even 
some  members  of  Congress  ridiculed  Professor  Morse 
and  liis  telegrapli  as  a  delusion.  But  in  sj)ite  of  rid- 
icule, and  doubt,  and  incredulity,  the  telegrapli  be- 
came a  success,  and  b}^  it  the  ends  of  the  earth  have 
been  brought  together.  These  things  I  have  seen  and 
remembered  wliile  living  here  in  Orleans  county. 

GEORGE  E.  MIX." 

MRS.    LYDIA    MIX. 

•'  I  v/as  born  in  Brantford,  Connecticut,  in  1783.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  I  married  Abiathar  Mix,  and  ec- 
moved  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  where  my  hus- 
band owned  a  farm,  on  which  we  lived,  working  it 
chiefly  by  hired  men,  my  husband  being  a  mason  b}' 
trade,  labored  at  that  ])usiness  in  the  summer  and 
winters  he  made  nails  and  buttons. 

We  resided  there  until  Ma}',  1817,  wht-n  we  sold 
our  farm  and  removed  to  Bai-re,  Orleans  Co.,  and  lo- 
cated on  lot  'S2,  township  14,  iMiige  2.  Very  little 
land  was  then  cleared  in  that  neiglil)oihood,  and  e^'en 
tliat  vras  covered  with  stumps  of  trees.  Mr.  Mix  had 
been  here  the  yeav  before  and  engaged  a  man  to  build 
a  log  house  for  him.  AVhen  we  came  on  we  found  oui- 
house  with  walls  up  and  roof  on.  My  husband  split 
some  bass  wood  logs  and  hewed  them  to  plank,  with 
which  he  laid  a  floor,  and  we  began  housekeeping  in 
our  new  house. 

My  husband  had  ten  or  iifteeu  Jiundred  dollai'S  in 
money,  when  he  moved  here.  He  took  an  article  for 
a  large  tract  of  land  and  went  to  making  potash  aud 
selling  goods  and  merchandise,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  Ebenezer  IMix.  who  was  then  a  clerk  in  the 
land  office  of  the  Holland  Company,  at  Batavia. 

The  settlers,  building  their  houses  of  logs  and  theii- 
chimneys  of  sticks  ami  mud,  my  husband  found  noth- 


OF  OKLEANS   COU^VTY.  169 

ing  to  do  at  liis  trade,  until  they  began  making  briclv 
and  malving  tlieir  cliimneys  of  stone,  witli  brick  ovens. 

He  then  closed  out  his  mercantile  business  and 
went  to  work  at  his  trade  and  being  something  of  a 
lawyer,  he  used  to  do  that  kind  of  business  consider- 
ably for  tlie  settlers. 

We  had  pretty  hard  times  occasionally  but  managed 
to  get  along  with  what  we  had  and  raised  our  seven 
children  to  be  men  and  women. 

My  husband  died  in  1856.     Three  of  my  children 

have  died.     I  shall  be  86  years  old  in  a  few  days,  if  I 

live. 

LYDIA  MIX." 

Barre,  February,  1869. 

.roSEPil   JIAKT. 

Josepli  Hart  was  born  in  Berlin,  Hartford  Co.. 
Conn.,  in  Nov.,  1775,  and  died  in  Barre,  Orleans  Co.. 
N.  Y.,  Jul}',  1855. 

Mr.  Hart  moved  to  Seneca,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.. 
in  the  year  1806.  In  the  fall  of  1811,  he  came  to  Bar- 
re and  took  an  article  from  the  Holland  Land  Co.,  of 
lot  34,  township  15,  range  1,  containing  360  acres,  the 
principal  part  of  which  is  still  owned  by  his  sons, 
William  and  Joseph. 

In  April,  1812,  in  company  witli  Elijah  Barrow, 
Frederick  Holsenburgh  and  Silas  Benton,  then  3'oung 
unmarried  men,  he  returned  and  built  a  log  house  on 
his  lot  and  moved  his  famil}'  into  it  in  October  follow- 
ing. 

Elijah  Darrow  took  an  article  of  part  of  lot  1,  town- 
ship 15,  range  2,  held  the  land  and  Avorked  on  it  about 
two  years,  then  sold  it  to  Mr.  Hart,  who  sold  it  to  Eb- 
enezer  Rogers,  about  the  year  1816. 

Sikis  Benton  took  an  article  of  part  of  a  lot  lying- 
next  north  of  Darrow' s  land,  which  was  for  many 
years  afterwards  owned  by  Samuel  Pitch.  Benton 
made  a  clearing  on  his  land,  built  a  log  house  on  it, 


170  PIONEER  HISTORY 

in  wliicli  he  lived  several  years  and  in  which  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Silas  Benton,  tanght  a  scliool,  probably  the  tirst 
school  in  the  town  of  Barre,  boarded  several  men  and 
did  her  house  work  at  the  same  time,  all  in  one  room. 
A  log  school  house  was  afterwards  built  on  Benton's 
land,  to  which  Mrs.  Benton  moved  her  school,  whicli 
was  said  to  have  been  the  first  school  house  built  in 
town. 

Frederick  Holsenburgh  took  an  article  of  part  of 
the  lot  lying-  next  north  of  Benton' s,  in  the  village  of 
Albion,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Oak  Orchard  Road. — 
The  Depot  of  the  N.  Y.  Central  Railroad  stands  on 
the  Holsenburgh  tract. 

Joseph  Hart  mariied  Lucy  Kirtland,  wlio  was  born 
in  Saybrook,  Conn.,  and  who  died  at  Adrian,  Mich., 
January,  1868,  aged  89  years. 

He  was  here  during  the  war  of  18J2,  and  was  sever- 
al times  called  out  to  do  militar}^  sei-vice  in  that  war. 
He  was  a  prominent  and  active  man  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  organization  of  society  in  the  new 
country.  He  assisted  in  forming  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  Albion,  in  wiiich  he  was  a  ruling  elder 
Avhile  lie  lived,  and  from  his  office  in  tliat  church  he 
Avas  alwa3"s  known  as  Dea.  Hart. 

He  almost  always  held  some  towji  office,  and  for 
many  of  his  later  3^eai-s  he  was  overst^er  of  the  poor  of 
the  town  of  Barre,  a  position  tlie  kindness  of  his  na- 
ture well  qualified  him  to  fill.  His  fortunate  location 
near  the  thrivina-  village  of  Albion,  which  has  been 
(extended  over  a  part  of  his  farm,  made  him  a  wealthy 
man.  Tlirough  a  long  life,  he  maintain(ed  a  high 
charactei'  for  probity  and  good  judgment,  and  died 
respected  by  all  wlio  knew  him. 

ADEN    FOSTER 

Was  T)orn  in  Sudbury,  Vermont,  July  20,  1791  ; 
married  Sarah  Hall,  of  Brandon,  Vt.,  Jan.  28,  1817; 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  171 

came  to  Bane  in  the  winter  of  1817  and  settled  on  lot 
80,  township  14,  range  1,  half  a  mile  south  of  Barre 
Center.  He  cleared  np  his  farm  and  resided  on  it  un- 
til  his  death,  Feb.  18,  1838.  Mr,  Foster  was  an  active 
business  man,  a  leading  man  among  the  early  settlers. 
He  was  for  several  years  Capt,  of  a  militia  compan}-, 
and  for  some  years  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

ALEXIS    WAllD. 

Alexis  Ward  was  born  in  the  town  of  Addi- 
son, Vermont.  May  18,  1802,  His  parents  removed 
to  Caj^uga  county.  New  York,  when  he  was  quite  a 
lad.  He  studied  law  with  Judge  Wilson  of  Auburn, 
and  w^as  admitted  to  tlu^  bar  in  1823.  In  1824  he  re- 
moved to  Albion,  where  he  was  soon  appointed  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace. 

On  the  refinement  of  J  udg(e  Foot,  who  was  the  iirst 
Judge  of  Orleans  count}^,  Mr.  Ward  was  appointed 
First  Judge  in  his  place  Feb.  10,  1830,  an  office  he 
held  by  re-appointment  until  January  27,  1840. 

In  1834-5  he  Avas  mainly  instrumental  in  procuring 
the  charter  incorpoiating  the  Bank  of  Orleans,  which 
was  the  first  bank  incorporated  in  Orleans  county, 
and  in  1836  was  elected  its  President  and  held  that 
office  until  his  death. 

He  was  one  of  the  movers  in  founding  the  Phipps 
Union  Seminary  and  the  Albion  Academy,  and  was 
always  liberal  in  sustaining  our  public  schools. 

It  was  mainly  owing  to  his  exertions  that  the  Roch- 
ester, Lockport  and  Niagara  Falls  Railroad  was  built, 
and  if  it  has  ])roved  a  beneht  the  thanks  for  its  con- 
struction are  chietly  due  to  Judge  Ward. 

The  Suspension  Bridge  across  Niagara  River  made 
a  part  of  his  original  plan  in  connexion  Avitli  this  rail 
road,  and  his  arguments  and  exertions  were?  mainly 
effectual  in  inducing  Am«*ri<'an  capitalists  to  take 
stock  in  this  Bridge. 


172  PIONEER    iriSTORY 

He  projected  the  ])laiik  roads  from  the  Ridge  through 
Albion  to  Bane  Center  and  took  a  hirge  pecuniary 
interest  in  them. 

He,  with  Roswell  and  Freeman  Chxrke,  built  the 
large  stone  ilouring  mill  in  Albion.  He  also  built 
several  dwelling  houses. 

He  was  a  large  hearted,  public  spirited  man,  always 
ready  to  do  anything  he  thought  might  benefit  Albion. 

In  all  his  business  relations  he  was  just,  honorable 
and  upright,  every  man  received  his  due  ;  his  purse 
was  alwa}  s  open  to  the  calls  of  charity.  A  man  of 
untiring  energ}'  and  perseverance, — to  start  a  project 
was  with  him  a  certainty  of  its  comj^tletion. 

In  his  intercourse  with  those  about  him  he  was 
kind,  affable  and  generous.  His  reserve  might  be 
construed  by  those  who  did  not  know  him  well,  as 
haughtiness,  but  few  men  wcne  i'lvvv  from  this  than 
he. 

As  a  Christian,  he  was  an  exemplary  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  t)f  Albion,  with  which  he 
connected  himself  in  1881.  He  always  gave  greater 
pecuniary  contributions  to  sustain  that  church  and 
its  ministers  than  any  other  man.  He  did  much  by 
liis  prayers,  counsel,  charities  and  example  to  sustain 
the  cause  of  religion  generally. 

In  November,  1854,  he  Avas  elected  Member  of  As- 
sembly for  Oileans  count}-,  but  his  deatli  pi-evented 
his  taking  his  seat  in  the  Legislature. 

He  married  Miss  Laura  Goodricli  of  Aubui'u  in 
182G.     He  died  November  28th,  1 854. 

THE    LEI']    FA^MII.Y. 

Judge  John  L(h\  t]i<'  ancestor  of  tJiis  family  and  the 
man  alter  v%hom  the  Le*,^  Settlement  in  Barre  was 
named,  was  born  in  Barre,  Massachusetts,  June25tli, 
ITOo.  In  an  early  day  he  emigrated  to  Madison 
county,  New  York,  where  he  resided  fourteen   years, 


OF  ORLEANS    COUNTY.  1.73 

find  came  to  Barre,  Orleans  county  in  181G,  and  took 
np  a  tract  of  land.  He  retu7"ned  home,  but  his  sons, 
Charles  and  Ora,  then  young  men,  came  on  and 
cleared  up  several  acres  of  their  fathers  purchase, 
and  bnilt  a  log  house  into  wliich  Mr.  John  Lee  and 
his  family  moA'ed  in  February,  1817. 

Mr.  Lee  was  an  intelligent,  energetic  man,  benevo- 
lent and  patriotic  in  his  character,  ahvaj^s  among  the 
first  to  engage  in  any  work  tending  to  premote  the 
good  of  his  neighbors  or  the  prosperitj^  of  the  country. 
With  the  hospitality  common  to  all  the  pioneers,  he 
kept  open  house  to  all  comers  and  frc^quently  half  a 
dozen  men  looking  after  land  or  waiting  till  their  log 
houses  could  be  put  up,  v\^ould  be  quartered  with  him 
though  his  own  family  was  large. 

He  was  always  conspicuous  in  aiding  to  lay  out 
and  open  roads,  biuld  school  liouses  and  induce  set- 
tlers to  come  in  and  stay.  He  was  appointed  a 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Genesee 
county  and  his  opinions  and  counsel  in  all  matters 
of  local  interest  were  much  souglit  by  liis  neighbors. 
He  died  in  October  1823. 

His  children  were  Denc(\y,  wife  of  Benj.  Clodard, 
who  died  in  Barre  in  1831.  Submit,  wife  of  Judge 
Eldridge  Farwell,  who  is  still  living,  (..harles,  Ora 
and  Asa.  Sally  wife  of  Andrew  Stevens.  She  taught 
the  first  school  kept  in  the  settlement  in  a  log  school* 
house  in  Avhicli  the  laniiiy  of  a  Mr.  Pierce  then  re- 
sided, in  1818-19.  She  died  at  Knowlesville  in  1828. 
Esther  wife  of  Gen.  \Vm.  C.  'fanner,  died  in  1835. 
John  B.  who  died  in  September  1800.  Clarissa  wife 
of  John  Proctor,  who  died  in  1832.  CyntJiia  married 
William  Mudgett  of  Yates,  in  1837,  sJie  is  now  living 
the  widow  of  John  Proctor.  Cliarles  lias  always 
r(»sided  on  a  part  of  the  land  originallv  talccMi  wj)  hy 
liis  father.     He  has  abva^^s  been  a  prominent  man  in 


174  FIONEEll   HISTORY 

public  aflaiis  in  town  and  county,  and  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a  Justice  of  tlie  Peace. 

Ora  Lee  also  has  resided  on  a  part  of  the  land  so 
taken  up  hy  his  father.  It  is  said  he  cut  the  first  tree 
that  was  felled  between  the  village  of  Millville  in 
Shelby  and  the  Oak  Orchard  Road  in  Barre.  Gen, 
John  B.  Lee  removed  to  Albion  about  the  year  1832, 
and  engaged  in  warehousing  and  foi'warding  on  the 
canal.  Shortly  after  this  he  purchased  of  the  Hol- 
land Company  a  large  number  of  outstanding  con- 
tracts made  by  the  Company  with  settlers  on  the  sale 
of  their  lands  in  the  north  part  of  this  county.  He 
conveyed  these  lands  to  the  purchasers  as  they  were 
paid  for. 

A  few  years  afterwards  he  engaged  in  selling  dry 
goods  in  Albion.  In  a  short  time  he  left  this  and 
devoted  himself  mainly  to  buying  and  selling  flour 
and  grain,  and  in  manufacturing  tloui'  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  took  delight  in  military 
affairs,  held  various  offices  in  the  State  militia,  rising 
graduall}'  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General. 

ABKAIIA^t    CANTIlSrE. 

Abraham  Cantine  w^as  born  in  Marbletown, 
Ulster  county.  He  volunteered  as  a  soldier  in  the 
United  States  Army  in  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  in 
1812,  and  served  as  a  Captain  in  the  stirring  scenes 
of  that  war  on  the  Canadian  frontier.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  sortie  at  the  battle  of  Fort  P]rie. 

After  the  war  he  was  discharged  from  the  army 
and  returned  to  Ulster  county,  of  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed Sherift'  by  the  old  Council  of  Appointment, 
in  Feb.  1819.  Soon  after  the  expiration  of  his  office 
as  Sheriff,  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Murray,  in  Or- 
leans county.  He  was  employed  about  the  year  1829, 
to  re-survey  that  portion  of  the  100,000  acre  tract  ly- 
ing mainly  in  the  town  of  Murray,  which  belonged  to 


OF   ORLEANS     COUNTY.  175 

the  Pultney  estate,  part  of  township  number  thrtM%  a 
labor  he  carefully  and  faithfully  perfonned. 

He  represented  the  county  of  Orleans  in  the  State 
Legislature  in  1827.  He  served  five  years  as  an  As- 
sociate Judg(i  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Or- 
leans county.  He  was  Collector  of  Tolls  on  the  Erie 
Canal  at  Albion  in  1835. 

Several  years  befor  his  death  he  removed  to  Albion 
to  reside,  and  died  there  .about  Aug.  1,  1840,  aged 
fifty  years. 

Judge  Cantine  was  a  clear  headed  man,  of  sound 
judgment,  well  informed  and  always  sustained 
a  high  reputation  for  ability  wlierever  he  was  known. 
He  was  a  warm  personal  and  political  friend  of  Pres- 
ident VanBuren. 

CAUOLINE  }\    ACHILLES, 

Daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph  Phipps,  was  born  in  Rome, 
^ew  York.  She  was  one  in  a  numerous  family  of 
daughters,  wliose  earl^'  education  was  superintended 
by  lier  latlier  with  more  than  ordinary  care  at  home, 
though  slie  had  the  advantages  of  the  best  private 
schools  and  of  the  district  schools  in  the  vicinity. — 
AVhile  slie  was  quite  young  her  father  settled  in  Bar- 
ye,  and  at  an  earl}'  age  she  was  permitted  to  gratify 
the  ambition  she  then  manifested  and  whicli  has  been 
a  ruling  passion  of  her  life,  to  become  a  teacher,  by 
taking  a  small  district  school,  at  a  salary  of  one  dol- 
lar per  week  'and  board  around,'  as  was  then  cus- 
tomary in  such  schools.  The  salary,  however,  was 
no  object  to  lier,  she  v.ished  to  teach  a  school,  not  to 
make  money.  After  teaching  this  school  two  oi'  three 
terms,  she  attended  the  Gaines  ^Vcademy  then  in  the 
zenith  of  its  prosperity.  Having  spent  some  thne 
here  she  was  sent  to  a  '  linishing  Ladies  School  kept 
by  Mrs.  and  Miss  Nicholas,  in  Whitesboro,  N.  Y. 

On  leaving  Whitesboro  she  determined  to  engage  in 


17G  PIONEEK   HISTORY 

teaching  permanently  and  acceiDted  a  situation  to  in- 
struct as  assistant,  in  a  classical  school  which  had 
been  opened  by  two  ladies  in  Albion. 

Finally  an  arrangement  was  made  between  tlie  two 
principals  and  their  assistant,  under  which  they  trans- 
ferred their  lease  of  jn-emises,  and  all  their  interests 
in  the  school  to  Miss  Phipps. 

She  now  associated  with  an  elder  sister  and  the 
two  commenced  their  labors  as  teachers  on  their  own 
account,  in  a  building  then  standing  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Phipps  Union  Seminary,  in  April,  1833, 

Acting  on  a  favorite  theory  with  her,  that  it  is  bet- 
ter to  teach  boys  and  girls  in  separate  schools,  she  di- 
vided her  scholars  accordingly,  and  after  a  time  she 
declined  to  receive  boys  as  pupils  and  devoted  all 
her  energies  to  her  school  for  young  ladies. 

This  j)roved  a  success.  So  many  pupils  had  come 
in  that  in  Angust  of  her  first  year,  she  had  been  join- 
ed by  another  and  younger  sister  as  teacher,  besides 
a  teacher  in  music  and  all  found  themselves  fully 
employed. 

She  thus  became  convinced  a  Female  Seminary 
could  be  supported  in  Albion  and  that  she  was  ca- 
pable of  superintending  it,  and  encouraged  by  the 
counsel  and  inliuence  of  some  of  the  best  citizens  of 
the  village,  she  issued  a  circular  to  the  j)nblic,  an- 
nouncing the  founding  of  such  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing here. 

After  near  a  ja^ars  trial  the  new  Seminary  was 
proved  to  rcKjuire  additional  buildings,  to  accommo- 
date the  large  school.  Miss  Phipps  invited  some  of 
tlie  most  wealthy  and  influential  men  of  Albion,  to 
meet  and  hear  her  projDOsition  to  erect  a  new  Semi- 
nary Building,  which  was  in  substance,  that  they 
should  loan  to  her  four  thousand  dollars,  with  which, 
and  funds  she  could  otherwise  procure,  she  would 
erect  a  building  and  repay  the  loan  to  the  subscribers 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  177 

in  installments,  and  thus  establish  permanently  the 
Seminary  she  proposed. 

Such  proceedings  were  had  upon  this  projjosal  that 
a  i^aper  was  circulated,  and  tlie  required  sum  sub- 
scribed, with  a  condition  added  that  the  avails  of  this 
loan  to  be  repaid  by  Miss  Phipps,  should  be  used  to 
found  an  Academy  for  boys  in  Albion.  This  plan 
was  eventually  carried  into  effect,  and  the  brick  edi- 
fice still  used  as  a  Seminary,  built  in  the  year  183G, 
and  Pliipps  Union  Seminary  duly  incorj)orated  in 
1840. 

Miss  Philips  was  thus  instrumental  in  founding  two 
incorporated  schools  in  Albion,  which  have  proved  of 
great  public  benefit. 

Miss  Phipps  was  married  to  Col.  H.  L.  Achilles,  oi 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  February,  1839,  and  soon  after 
resigning  the  care  of  the  Seminary  to  her  younger  sis- 
ter, she  removed  to  Boston,  Mass.,  where  she  resided 
the  succeeding  ten  years.  During  this  time  this 
younger  sister  married,  when  the  Seminary  was  trans- 
ferred to  others,  less  competent  to  manage  its  affairs, 
in  whose  hands  it  lost  the  large  patronage  it  liad  rp- 
.  (Reived,  and  was  well  nigh  ruined. 

This  compelled  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Achilles  to  return  to 
Albion,  in  1849,  and  resume  charge  of  the  Seminary, 
or  lose  a  large  pecuniary  interest  they  had  invested 
there. 

The  tact  and  energy  of  Mrs.  Achilles,  well  sustain- 
ed b}^  her  husband,  gave  new  vigor  to  the  institution, 
and  soon  brought  the  Seminary  back  to  the  higli 
standing  it  had  under  her  former  administration. 

Tired  and  worn  down  by  the  harrassing  cares,  anx- 
ieties and  labor  of  superintending  so  large  an  estab- 
lishment and  school,  so  many  3^ears,  in  1866  Mrs. 
Achilles  reluctantly  consented  to  transfer  her  dearly 
cherished  Seminary  again  to  strangers. 

After  three  years'  trial  by  these  parties  however,  it 

12 


17.S  PIONKEU    HlSiOUV 

was  tliouglit  best  that  Mrs.  Acliilles  should  again 
take  charge  of  Pliipps  Union  Seminary,  whicli  she 
did,  bringing  with  her  to  lier  duties  the  skill,  experience 
and  practical  ability-  which  have  given  her  such  emi- 
nent success  as  a  teacher. 

Mrs.  Acliilles  has  devoted  the  l)est  years  of  her  life 
to  the  cause  of  female  education.  She  has  labored  in 
her  chosen  vocation,  with  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of 
genius,  and  may  enjoy  her  reward  in  the  good  she 
knows  she  has  done,  and  in  the  success  with  which 
she  sees  her  work  has  been  crowned. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE   VILLAGE   OF   ALBIOK. 

Pirst  Inhabitants — First  Business  Men — Strife  witli  Gaines  for  Court 
House — Stratcgj'  used  by  Albion  men  to  get  Court  House — First 
Court  House — Second  Court  House — County  Jail — First  Hotel — 
First  Warehouse — Stone  Flouring  3Iill — Lawyers — Drs.  Xichoson 
and  "White — First  Tanyard— First  Blacksmiths— Xame  of  the  Vil- 
lage. 

^^  "^"^^  Orchard  Road  intersects  this  village  and 
);^^  now  forms  Main  Street,  north  and  sonth,  in 
j^iS)^  the  center  of  the  2:)lace.  It  was  this  road  and 
the  Erie  Canal  that  iixed  a  village  here. 

When  the  canal  was  commenced  Albion  was  used 
'for  farms,  but  by  the  time  the  canal  became  naviga- 
ble considerable  of  a  town  had  sprung  u]). 

William  McCollister  cleared  the  first  land  on  what 
is  now  in  the  corporation,  where  the  Court  House  and 
Female  Seminary  stand,  and  built  his  log  house  on 
the  Seminary  lot  in  1812.  He  took  up  lot  thirty-five, 
township  fifteen,  range  one,  on  the  east  side  of  Main 
street,  under  article  from  the  Holland  Company, 
which  he  sold  to  William  Bradner,  who  took  the  deed 
from  the  company  of  two  hundred  and  sixtj^-six  and 
one-half  acres  of  the  north  part,  his  brother  Joel 
taking  a  deed  of  ninc^j'-two  acres  on  tlie  south  part, 
on  the  west  side  of  Main  street. 

Jesse  Bum^uis  took  up  by  article  from  the  compa- 
ny, tlie  land  from  the  town  line  of  Gaines  on  the  north, 
to  near  State  street  on  the  south.  John  Holtzbarger, 
<ii'  Holsenburgh,  as  he  was  sometimes  called,  took  up 


180  PIONEER  HISTORY 

the  next  land  south  of  Bnmpiis,  and  Elijah  Darrow 
took  the  next. 

Before  the  canal  was  made  Mr.  AVilliani  Bradner 
sold  one  hundred  acres  of  the  north-west  part  of  his 
tract  to  Nehemiah  Ingersoll  and  others.  Mr.  Inger- 
soll  employed  Orange  Risden  to  lay  out  his  land  hor- 
dering  on  the  Oak  Orchard  lload  and  canal,  into  vil- 
lage lots,  and  to  make  a  plat  of  the  same.  From  this 
Mr.  Ingersoll  sold  lots  and  opened  the  streets,  he  hav  ■ 
ing  bought  out  his  partners. 

The  Bumpus  tract,  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street, 
at  this  time  was  owned  by  Mr.  Roswell  Burrows,  the 
father  of  Messrs.  R.  S.  &  L.  Burrows.  He  did  not 
lay  out  his  land  into  village  lots  by  any  general  sur- 
vey and  plan,  but  laid  oft*  lots  and  opened  streets 
from  time  to  time  as  the  wants  of  the  j)ublic  required. 
The  land  fronting  on  Main  street,  througli  the  village, 
was  taken  up  and  mostly  occupied  by  purchasers  ■ 
from  the  original  proprietors,  about  the  time  the  canal 
was  made  navigable. 

The  location  of  tlie  County  Seat  in  Albion,  about 
this  time,  and  the  bustle  and  business  of  erecting 
county  buildings, establishing  the  courts  and  public  of- 
fices and  organizing  the  affairs  of  a  new  county,  town 
and  village,  brought  in  an  influx  of  inhabitants  at 
once,  representing  the  difterent  callings  and  emj^loy- 
ments  pursued  by  those  who  settled  in  villages  along 
the  canal. 

The  south  side  of  the  canal— the  north  being  the 
towing  2>atli — was  soon  occupied  by  buildings  put 
up  for  the  canal  trade,  such  as  warehouses  and  gro- 
cery stores.  Tlie  large  number  of  passengers  who 
tilled  the  canal  boats,  made  the  grocery  stores,  from 
which  they  and  the  boatmen  procured  their  sui^plies, 
places  of  lively  trade,  by  night  and  day.  Variety 
stores,  each  ftlled  with  goods  of  every  name,  class  and- 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  181 

-•description  demanded  by  the  customers,  were  numer- 
ous, though  small. 

Among  the  first  merchants  were  Goodrich  &  Stan- 
dart,  John  Tucker,  O.  H.  Gardner,  K.  S.  &  L.  Bur- 
rows, Alderman  Butts,  and  Freeman  Clarke,  of  late 
years  a  prominent  banker  in  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

When  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  select  the 
site  for  the  Court  House  came  on  to  fix  the  spot,  their 
choice  lay  between  Gaines  and  Albion.  Gaines  had 
the  advantage  of  being  the  largest  village,  being  on 
the  Ridge  Road,  and  being  well  supplied  with  me- 
chanics and  merchants,  and  of  having  many  of  the 
institutions  of  old  and  well  organized  communities  es- 
tablished there.  Albion  was  nearest  the  geographical 
center  of  the  county,  and  was  intersected  by  the  Erie 
Canal  and  Oak  Orchard  Road.  The  west  branch  of 
Sandy  Creek  runs  through  the  east  part  of  the  vil- 
lage. Rising  in  some  swamps  in  the  south  pari  of 
the  town,  it  afforded  sufficient  water  after  the  melting 
of  the  snow  in  spring,  and  after  rains  to  turn  ma- 
chinery a  part  of  the  year,  but  in  summer  was  nearly 
,  dry.  On  this  stream  two  saw  mills  had  been  built, 
.  one  in  the  village,  the  other  south  of  it. 

The  Commissioners  came  to  consider  the  claims  of 
the  rival  villages  about  the  ndddle  of  the  dry  season, 
Mr.  Nehemiah  Ingersoll,  Philetus  Bumpus,  Henr}' 
Henderson,  and  a  few  other  Albion  men,  determined 
to  use  a  little  strategy  to  help  Albion.  Knowing 
when  the  Commissioners  would  be  here  the  creek 
would  be  too  low  to  move  tlie  sawmills,  and  foresee- 
ing the  advantage  a  good  mill  stream  would  give 
them,  they  patched  the  two  dams  and  flumes  and 
closed  the  gates  to  hold  all  the  water  some  days  be- 
fore the  Commissioners  would  arrive ;  sent  some 
teams  to  haul  logs  and  lumber  about  the  saw  mill 
and  mill  yard,  in  the  village  to  mark  the  ground  and 
give  the  appearance  of  business  there. 


182  PIONEEK   HISTORY 

AVhen  the  Commissioners  oame  to  see  Albion., 
having  "been  generously  dined  and  wined,  by  its  hospi- 
table people,  they  were  taken  in  a  carriage  to  see  the 
place,  and  in  the  course  of  the  ride  driven  along  the 
creek  and  by  the  sawmill,  then  in  full  operation,  with 
men  and  teams  at  work  among  the  lumber,  with  a 
good  suppl}''  of  water  from  the  i^onds  thus  made  for 
the  occasion.  The  Commissioners  were  impressed 
A^dth  the  importance  of  this  fine  water  power  and 
gave  the  county  buildings  to  Albion  before  the  ponds 
ran  out. 

Mr.  IngersoU  donated  to  the  county  the  grounds 
now  occupied  by  the  court  house  and  jail  and  public 
park. 

The  first  court  house  was  built  in  1827,  of  bricky 
with  the  County  Clerk's  office  in  the  lower  story. 
Gilbert  Howell,  Calvin  Smith  and  Elihu  Mather  were 
building  committee. 

This  Court  House  was  pulled  down  and  a  new  one 
erected  in  its  place  in  1857-8,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000. 
W.  V.  N.  Barlow  was  the  architect,  and  Lyman  Bates,. 
Henry  A.  King  and  Charles  Baker,  building  com- 
mittee. 

The  present  jail  was  built  in  1888,  and  the  clerk's 
office  in  1836. 

The  first  hotel  was   kept  on  the  south-west  corner 

of  Main  and  Canal  streets,  by Cliurchill.     The 

next  hotel,  called  Albion  Hotel,  was  built  by  Philetus 
Bumpus  about  twenty  rods  south  of  the  canal  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  street,  and  kept  several  years  by 
Bumpus  k  Howland,  succeeded  by  Hiram  Sickles. 
Mr.  Bumpus  then  built  the  Mansion  House,  a  hotel 
standing  on  the  north  side  of  the  canal,  on  Main  St., 
which  he  kept  several  years. 

Mr.  Philetus  Bumpus,  and  his  father,  Jesse  Bum- 
pus, built  the  first  framed  dwelling  house  in  Albion,, 
on  the  lot  on  which  ]\Ir.  L.  Burrows  now  resides. 


OF   OKLKAXS    ("OrNTY.  183 

Tlie  tirst  wareliouse  was  built  hy  Nelieniiali  Inger- 
soU,  on  the  canal  about  t\^'('iity  lods  east  of  Main  St. 
The  next  by  Gary  &  Tilden,  on  the  west  side  of  Main 
street,  on  the  canal. 

The  first  sawmill  in  the  corporation  of  Albion  was 
built  in  1819,  by  William  Biadner. 

Mr.  William  Bradner  built  the  first  grist  mill,  ihr 
mill  stones  for  which  lie  cut  in  person  from  a  rock  in 
Palmyra.  One  of  these  stones  is  now  us^ed  for  a 
corner  guard  stone  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Claren- 
don streets.  These  mills  were  cheap  structures  and 
were  taken  away  after  a  few  3'ears. 

The  stone  flouring  mill  on  the  canal  was  built  b}^ 
Ward  &  Clarks  in  1833. 

The  flrst  law^3'er  in  Albion  Avas  Theophilus  Capen. 
He  remained  here  but  a  sliort  time.  The  next  law- 
yers were  AVilliam  J.  Moody,  Alexis  Ward,  Henry  R. 
Curtis,  Gideon  Hard,  William  W.  Ruggles,  and 
others  came  about  the  time  the  county  was  or- 
ganized. 

Dr.  Orson  Nichoson  was  the  iirst  physician.  Ht^ 
located  two  miles  south  of  the  village  in  1819,  and 
removed  to  Albion  about  1822.  Dr.  William  White, 
who  had  been  in  practice  at  Oak  Orchard  in  Ridge- 
way,  came  here  about  the  time  the  county  was  organ- 
ized, and  opened  a  drug  store  and  w^ent  into  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  Nichoson  in   the  practice   of  medicine. 

Dr.  Stephen  M.  Potter  was  one  of  the  earh'  physi- 
cians who  settled  in  Albion.  He  was  born  in  West- 
port,  Mass.,  removed  to  Cazenovia,  X.  Y.,  and  from 
thence  to  Albion.  About  the  y(^ar  1837  he  removed 
to  Cazenovia  again.  He  represented  JNIadison  county 
in  the  State  Legislature  in  184G. 

The  flrst  tanyard  was  located  on  the  south  side 
of  the  canal  on  the  lot  nov/  occupied  b}'  the  gas  works, 
by  Jacob  Ingersoll,  about   the  year  1825.     Tanning 


184  PIOXEEIi   HISTORY 

was  continued  here  until  the  gas  works  were  built  in 
1858. 

The  first  blacksmiths  were  John  Moe,  Rodney  A. 
Torrey,  and  Phineas  Phillips. 

Albion  was  at  first  for  some  years  called  Newport, 
but  on  account  of  trouble  with  the  mails,  there  being 
another  post  office  in  this  state  by  the  name  of  New- 
port, at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  to  take  meas- 
ures to  get  the  village  incorporated,  on  motion  of 
Gideon  Hard,  the  name  was  changed  to  Albion  in  the 
first  Act  of  incorporation  passed  April  21st,  1828. 
The  first  company  of  fireman  was  organized  in  1831. 

John  Henderson  settled  in  Albion  incept.  1825  and 
established  the  first  shop  for  making  carriages.  He 
kept  the  first  livery  stable  in  1834,  and  started  the 
first  horse  and  cart  for  public  accommodation  in  1837. 
He  has  been  an  active  man,  an  ingenious  mechanic, 
and  has  built  ten  or  twelve  dwelling  houses  and  nu- 
merous shops,  barns  and  other  buildings  here. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


TOWN   OF   CiRI.TOX. 

Name — Lumber  Trade — First  Settlement  of  White  Men  in  County — 
James  Walsworth — Village  of  Manilla — Names  of  Persons  who  took 
Articles  of  Land  in  Carlton  in  1808,  1804  and  1805 — Matthew  Dun- 
ham— Curious  ^lill  to  Pound  Corn — Dunham's  Saw  Mill  and  Grist 
Mill — First  in  County— First  Frame  Barn— The  Union  Company — 
Death  ol  Elijah  Brown — First  Children  Born  in  Town — First  Store 
— Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 

Y^ 

W^  ARLTON  was  set  off  from  Gaines  and  Ridge- 
way  April  13,  1822,  by  the  name  of  Oak 
Orcliard.  The  name  was  changed  to  Carlton 
in  1825. 

The  region  of  Land  lying  north  of  tlie  Ridge  Road 
in  this  vicinity  was  called  the  "north  woods''  in  early 
times.  It  was  heavily  timbered  land,  containing  large 
numbers  of  immense  whitewood  trees  and  white  and 
red  oaks  of  the  largest  kind.  Some  pine  grew  near 
the  Oak  Orchard  Creek.  Hemlock  was  abundant  in 
,som^^  localities,  and  basswood,  elm,  beech  and  some 
maple  compiised  the  principal  kinds  of  trees. 

The  settlers  in  their  haste  to  clear  their  lands,  gen- 
erally burned  uj)  all  of  this  fine  timl)er  that  they  did 
not  want  for  fencing,  in  tht>  first  few  years  of  their 
settlement.  After  sawmills  were  built,  white  wood 
was  sawed  and  the  boards  hauled  to  the  canal  for  sale, 
and  large  quantities  of  oak  trees  were  squared  to  the 
top  and  sent  down  the  Lake  to  Europe  for  ship  timber. 
The  prices  obtained  were  barely  sufhcient  to  pa}'  the 
-expense  of  the  labor  required   to   move  the  lumber, 


186  I'lONEEU   IIISTOllY 

but  the  destructive  work  Avas  kept  up  till  most  of 
the  timber  trees  of  every  kind  have  been  cut  down 
through  this  town. 

The  first  settlement  of  white  luen  in  Orleans  county 
mas  made  in  this  town  in  the  year  1803  by  William 
and  James  Walsworth,  wlio  came  from  Canada. 
James  settled  near  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
and  William  near  the  mouth  of  Johnson's  Creek. 
James  Walsworth  was  tlie  pioneer  settler  of  this- 
county.  He  came  across  from  Canada  in  May  1803, 
in  an  open  boat  with  his  family,  and  built  a  log  cabin 
for  his  residence,  which  at  that  time  Avas  the  only 
house  near  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  between  Fort 
Niagara  and  Braddock's  Bay.  His  nearest  neighbor 
at  first,  resided  near  Lockport,  Niagara  count3\  Mr. 
Walsworth  was  very  poor  then.  The  only  provisions- 
they  had  when  they  landed  were  a  few  potatoes  ;  these 
and  fish  from  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  in  which  there  was 
then  an  abundance,  supplied  their  sustenance,  ex- 
cept an  occasional  barter  with  boatmen,  who.  coast- 
ing along  the  south  shore  of  the  lake,  would  put  into 
the  mouth  of  the  Oak  Orchard  for  sheltei'.  Wals- 
worth hunted  and  fished  mainly  for  a  living,  and 
when  he  collected  any  store  of  peltries  he  took  them 
east  along  the  shore  of  the  lake  to  a  market.  After 
two  or  tliree  years  he  removed  to  what  used  to  be 
called  "The  LewistonRoad,"  between  Lockport  and 
Batavia,  where  he  was  afterwards  Avell  known  as  a 
tavern  keeper. 

The  Walsworths  and  the  few  other  settlers  who  came 
in  and  stopped  along  the  Lake  Shore  in  Carlton,  com- 
prised all  tlie  settlers  in  Orleans  county  Ix^fore  the 
year  1809,  with  one  or  two  exceptions. 

About  the  year  1803,  Joseph  Ellicott  concluded 
that  eventually  a  village  must  grow  up  at  the  mouth 
of  Oak  Orchard  Creek.  In  anticipation  of  that  event 
he  made  a  plat  for  a  town  there  and  call<'d  it  Manilla., 


OF   OKLEAXS    COUNTY.  1S7 

a  name  wliicli  is  now  found  on  some  maps  for  the 
place  more  commonly  known  as  Oak  Orchard  Harbor, 
It  was  supposed  in  those  days  that  most  of  the  trade 
to  and  from  the  Holland  Purchase,  would  lake  the 
lake  route,  and  ISIanilla  would  be  the  depot.  At  that 
time  the  sand  bar,  at  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard 
Creek  was  less  then  in  later  years,  and  the  small 
schooners  then  on  the  lake  could  come  over  it  with- 
out difficulty.  It  was  in  furtherance  of  this  thought 
that  the  Holland  Company  did  what  they  did  towarcls 
opening  the  Oak  Orcliard  road  to  travel.  The  Erie 
Canal,  however,  effi^ctually  stifled  this  project,  and 
turned  trade  and  commerce  in  another  direction. 

John  G.  Brown  took  up  two  and  one-half  acres  of 
land  from  the  Company,  on  the  west  side  of  Oak 
Orchard  Creek  near  the  mouth  and  lield  it  on  specu- 
lation for  a  time,  but  nothing  was  done  in  the  way  of 
founding  a  village.  This  land  was  deeded  to  him  by 
the  Holland  Company  Dec.  2, 1806,  and  was  described 
in  the  deed  as  lot  No.  15,  on  a  plan  of  the  village  of 
Manilla.  This  was  the  first  deed  of  land  in  the  town 
of  Carlton  given  by  the  Company.  Brown  conveyed 
the  land  to  Silas  Joy,  Nov.  28,  1815.  The  following 
named  persons  took  Articles  of  the  Holland  Company 
for  land  lying  in  the  present  town  of  Carlton,  in  the 
years  following,  viz : 

IN  18  0  8. 
John  Farrin,  James  DeGraw,  Cornelius  DeGraw, 
James  Walswortli,  Elijah  Brown,  John  G.  Brown, 
James  McKinney,  Elijah  Hunt,  James  Dunham, 
David  Musleman,  Samuel  I'tter,  Ray  Marsh,  Henry 
Lovewell,  John  Parmeter,  AVilliam  Carter,  Martin 
Griffin,  Eli  Griffith.  William  Griffith  and  Stephen 
Hoyt. 

IN     18  0  4. 

Samuel  McKinn.'y,  John  Jason,    Henry    Lovewell, 


188  PIOXEER   HISTORY 

AVilliam  Carter,  Job  Shipman  and  Epliraim  Waldo. 
IN     1805. 

Paul  Brown,  .Job  Johnson,  Epliraim  Waldo,  David 
Miller,  and  Thaddeus  Moore. 

Matthew  Dunham  and  his  sons  Matthew,  James 
and  Charles,  came  from  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  to 
Wayne  county.  New  York,  about  1795.  They  re- 
moved to  Carlton  in  1804.  They  were  chair  makers, 
and  began  working  at  their  trade  soon  as  they  could 
get  settled  after  they  came  in. 

Henry  Lovewell  from  New  Hampshire,  and  Moses 
Root  and  his  family  from  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  came 
to  Carlton  with  Mi\  Dunliam  and  his  family. 

Matthew  Dunham,  Jr.  married  Rachel  Lovewell, 
daughter  of  Henry  Lovewell,  in  the  year  1814.  Mr. 
Dunham  died  in  1854,  but  Mrs.  Rachel  Dunham  is 
yet  living,  1871,  aged  about  eighty-six  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1804,  Matthew  Dunham  and  his 
sons  built  a  dam  across  Johnson' s  Creek  where  the 
dam  now  stands  at  Kuckville,  and  erected  a  small 
building  on  it,  Avith  machinery  for  turning  wood. 
The  Dunham  family  carried  on  the  business  of  turn- 
ing in  a  small  way  in  this  building  several  years. 
They  did  not  tind  much  sale  for  their  goods  near 
home,  but  sold  some  chairs  and  wooden  bowls  to  the 
new  settlers.  The  most  of  their  work  they  took  across 
the  lake  and  disposed  of  in  Canada.  They  continued 
this  commerce  until  the  embargo  was  declared  in 
1808,  and  after  that  they  smuggled  their  chair  stuff 
over  to  considerable  extent  on  a  sail  boat  which  they 
owned. 

It  is  related  by  some  of  the  first  settlers  that  in  this 
turning  shop  the  Dunhams  fixiul  an  apparatus  for 
pounding  corn,  by  making  a  tub  or  box  in  which  the 
corn  was  placed,  and  a  heavy  ])estle  was  made  to  fall 
at  each  turn  of  the  water  wheel.     Into  this  box  they 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  189 

would  pnt  about  a  bushel  of  corn,  occasionally  stir- 
ring it  up  to  bring  it  under  the  pestle,  and  thus  pound 
it  until  it  was  reduced  to  meal.  It  took  considerable 
time  to  turn  a  bushel  of  corn  into  meal  by  this  pro- 
cess, and  aid  could  be  afforded  to  but  few  families 
in  this  way. 

Several  families  coming  in  to  settle  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, the  want  of  a  sawmill  and  a  gristmill  was  great- 
ly  felt.  Three  or  four  years  after  the  Dunhams  built 
their  turning  shop,  the  Holland  Land  Company  of- 
fered to  furnish  the  irons  for  a  sawmill,  and  the  irons 
and  a  pair  of  mill  stones  for  a  grist  mill  if  they 
would  erect  such  mills  on  their  dam.  A  saw  mill 
and  a  grist  mill  were  built  accordingl}^ 

These  were  the  first  saw  and  grist  mills  built  in 
Carlton.  They  were  small,  coarse  affairs,  but 
the}''  were  very  useful  to  those  living  near  them. 
They  remained  the  property  of  the  Dunhams  until 
about  1816,  the}"  Avere  purchased  by  George  Kuck, 
and  rebuilt  on  a  much  larger  pattern  than  the  old 
mills. 

Mr.  Reuben  Hoot  owned  a  small  sail  boat  of  a  few 
tons  burthen  which  he  used  to  run  across  the  lake. 
On  this,  pine  lumber  was  brought  from  Canada  before 
sawmills  were  built  here,  and  it  was  the  principal 
conveyance  by  which  passengers  and  i)ro2^erty  were 
carried  across  the  lake  either  way  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Mr.  Moses  Root  built  a  framed  barn  before  Dun- 
ham's sawmill  was  erected,  bringing  the  boards  from 
Canada.  This  is  sujitposed  to  have  been  the  first 
frame  barn  built  in  Orleans  county. 

Reuben  Fuller  and  John  Fuller  came  from  Brad- 
ford county,  in  Penns3'lvania,  and  settled  near  Kuck- 
ville  in  1811. 

tup:  union  company. 

In  December,    1810,   eight  young  men  in   Stock- 


190  PIONEKU    IirsTOliY 

bridge,  Massachusetts,  formed  a  company,  wliicli 
tliey  named  "The  Union  Company,"  and  agreed 
each  to  contribute  an  equal  sliare  of  stock,  and  go 
tosether  and  form  a  settlement  on  the  Holland  Pur- 
chase,  where  each  partner  should  bu}'  for  himself  a 
farm  with  his  own  means,  and  the  company  would 
help  him  clear  a  certain  portion  of  land  and  build  a 
house  and  barn.  The  buildings  to  be  alike  on  each 
man's  farm. 

They  limited  the  conq^any  to  tw(^  years,  during 
which  they  would  all  live  and  work  together  and 
share  the  avails  of  their  labor  equally. 

Before  leaving  Stockbridgt^  tlie}-  drew  irp  and 
signed  their  agreement  in  writing. 

Thus  organized  the}^  came  to  Carlton  and  took  up 
land  west  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  each  a  farm,  which 
was  worked  according  to  contract. 

Fitch  Chamberlain  was  mariied  but  left  liis  wife  at 
home  until  he  could  get  a  home  for  her  made  ready. 
They  brouglit  no  women  with  them  and  kept  bache- 
lor' s  hall  the  first  year  when  Giles  Slater,  Jr. ,  went  back 
to  Stockbridge  and  married  a  wife  and  brought  her 
to  his  new  home,  and  soon  after  his  example  was 
followed  by  the  i-emaincler  of  the  company. 

The  company  made  judicious  selections  of  land  ; 
its  affairs  were  well  managed  and  successful.  All  of 
the  j)artners  were  fortunat(^  in  accumulating  proper- 
ty, the  sure  reward  of  honest,  persevering  industry. 
Their  families  have  ever  been  among  the  most  respec- 
ted and  influential  in  town. 

Fitch  Chamberlain  was  a  ph5'sician  and  practiced 
medicine  in  the  later  years  of  his  life.  Tlie  members 
of  the  company  are  all  dead  except  Anthony  Miles, 
now  aged  84  years,  in  1871. 

The  Union  Coinpany  consisted  of  Minoris  Day, 
Fitch  Chamberlain,  Charles  AVebstei-.  Anthony  Miles, 


OF    ORLEANS  COUNT V.  191 

■Selali  Bardrilee,  Moses  Barnuiii,  Jr.,  Eussell  Smith, 
and  Giles  Slater,  Jr. 

The  first  death  among  the  settlers  was  that  of 
Elijah  Brown.  The  first  birth  vras  a  pair  of  twins, 
children  of  James  AValsworth,  in  180G.  At  their 
birth  no  physician  or  person  of  her  own  sex 
was  present  with  the  mother.  The  first  marriage  was 
that  of  William  Carter  and  Amy  Hunt,  in  1804.  Pe- 
leg  Helms  taught  the  first  school  in  ]  810-11.  And 
George  Kuck  kept  the  first  store  in  1816. 

The  first  public  religious  services  in  Carlton  were 
held  about  the  year  1810,  and  were  conducted  b}' 
Hev.  Mr.  Steele,  a  ]\Iethodist  preacher  who  came 
from  Canada. 

Elder  Simeon  Dutcher,  of  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion, settled  in  Carlton  in  1817.  He  was  the  only 
preacher  residing  in  town  for  several  years. 

Among  the  first  settlers  were  Elijah  Hunt,  Moses 
Root,  Henr}'  Lovewell.  Paul  Brown,  Elijah  Brown, 
Job  Shipman,  Matthew  Dunham. 

Dr.  Richard  AV.  Gates  was  the  first  regular  phy- 
sician who  settled  in  the  j^ractice  of  his  profession  in 
Carlton.  After  a  few  years  he  moved  to  Barre,  and 
thence  to  Yates.  He  represented  Orleans  county  in 
the  State  Legislature  in  1841,  and  was  Supervisor  of 
Carlton  in  1820. 


BIOdKAPHIES  or  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

(;  KOI  Mil:    KUCK. 

Rev.  George  Kuck  was  born  in  the  city  "of  London, 
England,  December  23,  1791,  and  educated  at  King's 
College,  London.  He  came  to  New  York  city  in 
180G,  and  lemoved  to  Toronto,  Canada  West,  in  1807. 
In  the  war  between  England  and  the  Pnited  States  in 
3  812,  he  served  as  Lieutenant  in  the  Canada  militia. 


192  PIONEER   HISTORY 

After  the  war,  and  until  1815,  lie  was  clerk  in  the 
employ  of  the  Canadian  Government,  at  Toronto, 
until  October,  when  he  removed  to  Carlton  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  resided  ever  afterwards, 
now  known  as  Kuckville. 

He  erected  a  frame  gristmill  on  the  site  of  the  log: 
mill  built  by  M.  Dunham  on  Johnsoivs  Creek. 
In  1816  he  opened  a  store  near  his  residence,  at  that 
time  the  only  store  north  of  the  Ridge  in  this  23art  of 
the  country,  where  he  kept  a  large  store  of  goods 
and  carried  on  a  great  trade. 

He  soon  after  built  a  warehouse  at  the  mouth  of 
Johnson's  Creek.  At  one  time  he  had  a  store,, 
gristmill,  sawmill,  asliery,  warehouse  and.  farm,  all 
under  his  personal  supervision  and  in  successful  ope- 
ration. His  investments  were  judicious  and  safe,  his 
affairs  all  managed  with  economy  and  skill,  which 
resulted  in  making  him  a  w(:>alth3'  man. 

He  married  Miss  Electa  Fuller  March  25th,  1819. 
In  March  1821,  he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  was  ever  after  a  prominent  mem- 
ber. He  helped  to  form  the  first  religious  class  in  his 
church  in  the  town  of  Carlton,  and  Avas  its  leader. 
In  1825  he  organized  and  tanght  the  first  Sunday 
School  in  the  count}^  north  of  the  Eidge.  In  April, 
1829,  he  was  licensed  to  exhort,  in  1833  he  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1837  he  was  ordained 
Deacon  by  Bishop  Hedding,  and  in  1849  he  was  or- 
dained Elder  by  Bishop  Morris,  at  Albion. 

He  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  West  Carlton, 
since  Kuckville,  an  office  he  held,  in  all,  about  30 
years. 

He  was  a  man  of  good  education  and  fine  natural 
ability  and  his  life  was  filled  with  usefulness.  He 
was  among  the  first  and  foremost  in  all  matters  of  re- 
form and  advancement,  active  in  tlie  cause  of  temper- 
ance, morality  and  religion,  always  a  leading  man  in 


OF    ollLKANS    CiH'NTY.  19^: 

the   counsi'ls  of  the   churcl!.      lie   died    Mareii    IG, 
1 868,  aged  70  years. 

DANIEL    (iATES. 

Daniel  Gates  was  born  in  Kutland  count}',  \"ermont, 
Mareh  lltli,  1786.  lie  marri^Hl  Ann  Anderson,  Mar<'h 
12th,  1808. 

About  November,  1811,  lie  removed  t*)  Orleans 
county,  and  bought  an  article  of  part  of  lot  tAventy- 
ninc>,  township  fifteen,  range  two,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Eidge.  A  former  owner  liad  cleared  a  small  spot 
and  built  a  log  house  there.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Gatf^s 
resided  several  years.  He  afterwards  bought  a  farm 
in  Carlton,  where  he  resided  at  the  time  of  Iris  death, 
January  :]1  st,  1858. 

Mrs.  Ann  Gates  died  January  1st,  1860.  Tliey  were 
i)arents  of  John  and  XcJiemiah  F.  Gates,  of  Carlton, 
Lewis  W.  Gates,  residing  in  Michigan,  and  Matthevr 
A.  Gates,  of  Yates. 

Mr.  Gates  moved  his  family  in  with  a  yoke  of  oxen 
and  wagon.  No  bridge  had  been  built  across  Gene- 
see River,  and  he  forded  tlie  stream  at  Roiliester,  a 
nuin  riding  a  horse  hitclied  before  the  oxen,  to  guide 
them  through  the  river. 

Few  settlers  along  the  Ridge  Koad  came  in  advance 
of  Mr.  Gates,  or  braved  the  hardships  and  difRculties 
of  j)ioneer  life  with  better  courage.  They  liad  very 
lew  of  the  conveniences  and  comforts  of  civilized  life, 
and  sometimes  were  in  want  of  food.  Once  about 
the  last  year  of  the  war  a  scarcity  prevailed  among 
the  four  families  then  comprising  all  the  inhabitants 
in  the  vicinity  of  Mr.  Gates.  ]5ut  one  pan  full  of 
Hour  remained  among  tlumi  all,  and  that  they  kept 
to  feed  the  children,  the  older  folks  expecting  to  sub- 
stitute boiled  green  wheat  in  place  of  bread.  Mr. 
Gates  cut  a  few  l)undles  of   his  wheat  then  in  tlie 


194  PIONKKK    HISTORY 

milk,  and  dried  it  in  the  sun.  They  rubbed  tlie  soft 
grain  out  of  the  straw  and  boiled  it.  This  was  eaten 
■with  milk  and  relished  very  much  by  the  family,  and 
it  supplied  tliem  until  wlieat  ripened  and  dried  fit  to 
grind. 

For  several  years  no  settler  located  between  Mr, 
Gates'  place  on  the  Ridge,  and  Shelby.  Along  the 
line  of  the  canal  was  then  a  solid  forest.  Mr,  Gates* 
cattle  w^ere  suffered  to  range  the  woods  to  browse  in 
summei".  Tliey  usualh'  returned  to  the  clearing  at 
night.  Once  his  oxen,  one  of  which  wore  a  bell,  with 
his  cow  failed  to  come  in  at  night.  Mr.  Gates  armed 
himself  witli  a  bayonet  on  the  end  of  a  staff  to  rej^el 
a  bear  or  wolf  if  he  chanced  to  be  attacked,  and  went 
out  to  hunt  for  them,  his  old  English  musket  being 
too  heavy  to  carry.  After  several  days  hunting  he 
found  his  cattle  where  Knowlesville  now  stands — at- 
tracted there  by  some  wild  grass  growing  along  tlie 
brook. 

ELI.JAFJ     HUjN'T. 

Elijali  Hunt  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  llevolutionary  War,  AVliile  in  the  ser- 
vice, being  in  a  scouting  party  in  Pennsylvania,  he, 
with  his  party,  was  taken  ])risoner  by  the  Indians, 
He  with  the  other  prisoners  was  made  to  run  the 
gauntlet  from  one  j^oint  to  another,  fixed  for  the  pur- 
pose. Tile  Indians — men,  women  and  children — 
posted  themselves  on  each  side  of  the  track  to  be 
run  over  by  their  jjrisoners,  and  assaulted  them  as 
they  passed  with  clubs,  hatchets,  knives,  stones,  .&c. 
If  the  prisoners  were  fortunate  enough  the}'  might 
get  through  and  live,  and  they  might  be  severely 
wounded,  or  even  killed  by  the  way.  Mr.  Hunt  got 
through  witliout  serious  damage.  ^Vfter  reaching 
their  village  on   the  (renesee  River,  tlie  Indians   con- 


OF    0KLEAN8    CO TXT Y.  19o 

■€luded  to  sacrifice  Mr.  Hunt  after  tlieir  terrible 
fasliion.  He  was  stripped  and  painted  blacli  prepar- 
atory to  his  suffering  ;  but  before  tliey  began  to  tor- 
ture liim,  an  old  squaw,  whose  son  had  been  killed 
in  the  fight  when  Hunt  was  taken,  came  forwai'd  and 
■claimed  her  right  by  Indian  custom  to  adopt  him  as 
her  son,  in  place  of  the  one  that  was  killed.  He  was 
released  to  her  and  adopted  as  she  proposed,  and  re- 
.mained  with  the  Indians  near  the  Genesee  river,  in 
Livingston  county,  about  three  3^ears,  when  the  war 
having  ended,  he  was  permitted  to  return  to  his 
friends  in  Pennsylvania. 

He  was  always  treated  kindly  after  his  adoption  by 
the  Indians,  especially  bj'  liis  new  mother.  Mau}- 
years  after  his  settlement  in  Carlton,  the  Indians 
found  him  out  and  visited  him  with  many  demonstra- 
tions of  tlieir  friendship. 

In  the  depth  of  winter,  after  the  cold  suinmer  of 
1816,  fearing  he  might  be  in  want  Avitli  his  family,  on 
account  of  the  loss  of  crops  that  3^ear,  two  Indians, 
•one  of  whom  claimed  to  be  his  brother,  being  a  son 
-of  the  squaw  who  adopted  Mr.  Hunt,  came  to  Carlton 
to  visit  him  and  afford  relief  if  he  needed  it. 

He  came  to  Carlton  in  the  summer  of  1804  and 
took  up  a  farm  about  a  mile  west  of  the  mouth 
of  Johnson  s  Creek,  on  the  Lake  shore.  After  a  year 
or  two  he  went  back  to  Pennsylvania  with  liis  family 
.and  remained  until  October,  1806,  when  he  returned 
and  settled  permanently  on  his  farm,  whei-e  he  ever 
afterwards  resieled.  and  died  in  1830,  aged  stn-ent}- 
iiine  years. 

The  long  residence  of  Mr.  Hunt  among  the  Indians 
.qualified  him  to  become  a  pioneer  in  this  new  settle- 
ment, and  fitted  him  to  endure  the  piivations  and 
^difficulties  he  had  to  encounter. 

The  daughter  of  Mr.  Hunt,  Amy  Hunt,  mai-i-ied 
William  Carter  in  1804,  which  was  the  first  marria"-e 


196  pi<)NJ-:eii  iiiSToitY 

in  that  town,  and  probably  the  first   marriage  m  Or- 
k^ans  county, 

ItAY    MAKSir. 

Ray  Marsli  was  born  in  Connecticut,  About  tlie 
year  1800  lie  Avent  to  Canada  West  and  w^as  employed 
in  teaching  school.  In  1803  he  married  Martha  Shaw, 
who  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia.  In  that  year,  he  left 
Canada  at  Queenstown,  in  a  sinall  boat,  and  coasted 
along  the  south  shore  of  Lakt^  Ontario  to  Oak  Or- 
chard Creek,  in  Carlton,  and  took  an  article  for  land 
lying  near  the  lake  in  Carlton. 

In  1805,  on  account  of  sickness  in  the  neighborhood 
of  his  home  in  Carlton,  he  removed  to  Cambria,  in 
Niagara  county,  and  located  on  the  Ridge,  about  five 
miles  from  Lewiston.  He  was  driven  away  from  here 
by  the  British  and  Indians  when  Lewiston  was  burned 
by  them  in  the  war  with  England,  losing  almost  ev- 
ery thing  lie  had  in  the  world,  except  the  lives  of  him- 
self and  family.  The}^  lied  to  Ontario  county,  but 
returned  the  next  year  to  near  Ridgeway  Corners  and 
stopped  there.  He  had  now  a  large  family  of  chil- 
di'en  ;  to  maintain  them  he  had  to  sell  his  interest  in 
his  farm  in  Cambria  ;  and  in  the  cold  seasons  of 
1810-17  they  suffered  for  necessary  food  ;  and  few- 
families  suffered  more  from  the  prevailing  sickness  of 
the  country,  aggravated  as  it  was  b}^  their  poverty 
and  want  of  means  to  afford  relief. 

Mr.  Marsh  died  about  1852.  His  A\'idow,  now 
(1870)  eighty  six  years  old,  is  living.  She  had  seven 
grand-sons  soldiers  in  the  Union  army  in  the  war  of 
the  great  rebellion.  During  the  war  slie  spent  a 
large  i)Oition  of  her  time  knitting  stockings  for  the 
soldiers.  Siu^h  women  are  worthy  the  name  of 
'"  Revolutionary  Motliers,'"  and  are  an  honor  to  the 

American    uanu'. 

.lor.    siiip.AiAX. 

Job  Shipman  was   b(»rn  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  . 


OF    OKLEA^S  COrXTV.  197 

June  2d,  1772.  After  lie  aiTived  at  iiianliood  lie  re- 
sided for  a  time  in  Greene  coant^',  N.  Y.,  and  at 
length  came  to  ^Vayne  eonnty.  Avliere  lie  joined  the 
family  of  Mr.  Elijah  Brown,  and  removed  hy  way  of 
Lake  Ontario,  to  the  town  of  Carlton,  in  the  summer 
of  1804. 

While  coming  np  the  lake  Mr.  Elijah  Brown  died, 
/.and  his   body  was   brought   to  Carlton  and  buried 
thei'e.     His   sons  were   James,   John  (laidner,   Paul. 
Elijah,  Jr.,  and  Robert  M. 

Mr.  Shi2:)man  took  an  article  of  part  of  lot  twelve, 
section  two,  range  two,  of  Avhich  his  son  Israel  after- 
wards took  a  deed  from  the  land  comjiany,  and  on 
which  h(^  resides. 

He  married  widow  Ann  Tomblin  in  May.  1815. 
Israel  Shipman  was  his  onl}^  child. 

Job  Shipman  died  January  12th.  1888.  His  wife 
died  February  8th.  1858. 

The  first  town  meetings  in  Carlton  for  two  or  three 
years  were  held  at  his  dAvelling,  because  it  was  one 
of  the  best  log  lionses  in  toAvn  ;  had  a  shingled  roof, 
board  floor,  and  stood  near  the  middle  of  the  town  ; 
but  it  was  so  small  that  few  of  the  voters  assembled 
could  get  in  the  house  at  once.  They  comj^romised 
the  matter  by  allowing  the  Inspectors  to  sit  in  the 
house  wliile  the  voters  haiuh^d  in  their  ballots  to  them 
through  the  A\indow  from  without. 

As  it  was  in  cold  weather,  even  the  liberal  potations 
of  whisky  in  which  they  indulged  would  not  warm 
the  crowd  sufRcientl}',  so  they  made  a  large  log  heap 
near  the  house  wliicli  being  set  on  lire  answered  the 
purpose. 

LYMAX     irLLioi:. 

Lyman  Fuller  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  August 
IGth,    1808.     In   Februarv    1811,  his^ather.  Kein)en 


198  I'lONEER  HISTORY 

Fuller,  moved  with  Ms  family  to  near  the  lake  shore- 
in  A  Vest  Carlton. 

In  the  fall  of  1811,  Capt.  John  Puller,  a  brother  of 
Reuben,  settled  in  Carlton.  Mr.  Reuben  Fuller  died 
July  4th,  1837.  Mr.  Lyman  Fuller  succeeded  to  the 
possession  of  his  father' s  homestead,  on  which  he  re. 
sided  and  where  he  died  March  22d,  1866.  He  was  a 
much  respected  man  among  all  who  knew  him. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


TOWN   OF   CLARENDON. 

Difliculty  in  getting  Titles  from  Pultney  Estate — Elclrcclgo  Farwell — 
Farwell's  Mills — First  School — First  Merchants — J.  and  D.  Sturges 
— First  Postmaster — First  Physician — Presbyterian  Cliurch — First 
Town  Electing — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 


LAKENDON  comprises  a  i)()rtioii  of  the  (^ne 
liiindred  tlionsand  acre  tract,  and  ^vas  formed 
from  Sweden  February  23d,  1821. 
Owing  in  part  to  .the  difficulty  of  getting  a  good 
title  to  the  land,  which  up  to  about  1811,  w^as  owned 
for  several  years  b}^  the  Stat(^  of  Connecticut  and  iho 
Pultney  Estate  jointly,  s(^ttlers  came  in  slowly  at 
first. 

Tlip  land  was  divided  between  the  State  of  Connec- 
ticut and  the  Pultney  Estate,  in  1811  ;  but  the  lots 
wdiicli  fell  to  the  Pultney  Estate,  were  not  surveyed 
and  put  in  tlie  market  for  sale  until  about  the  year 
1821.  Settlers  were  allowed  to  take  posses- 
sion of  land  and  make  improvements  with  the  expec- 
tation that  when  the  lands  came  in  market  the}' 
would  retain  what  they  had  so  taken  and  then  get  a 
title.  Some  settlers  located  on  these  lands  under 
these  circumstances  and  cleared  them  up  and  built 
houses.  AVlien  they  finally  came  in  market  the  set- 
tlers was  charged  88  or  $10  per  acre, — a  niiudi  higher 
piice  than  he  expected  when  he  came  in,  and  a  higher 
price  than  the  Holland  Company  charged  for  their 
lands  of  like  quality  ;  but  Ik'  was  compelled  to 
pay  it  or  l(\av(^  and  lose  his  labor. 


200  PION  r.KIl    HISTOKY 

Among  thelirst  settlors  in  Clarendon  were  Eldridge 
Farwell,  John  Cone.  ]>radstreet  SpafFord,  Elislia 
Huntley,  David  Clmrcli,  and  Cliauncey  Robinson. 
Eldridge  Farwell  erected  the  iirst  sawmill  on  Sandy 
Creek  in  1811,  and  the  iirst  gristmill  at  the  same  plaet; 
in  1818.  A  village  grcnv  up  in  the  vicinity  of  these 
mills  which,  in  honor  of  Mr.  Farwell,  was  called  and 
known  as  FarwelFs  Mills.  Situated  a  little  iiortli- 
west  of  the  center  of  tlie  town,  it  has  been  the  princi- 
pal place  of  trade  and  business. 

.Fudge  Eldridge  Farwell  was  the  pioneer  settler. 
The  next  settler  was  Aianso]i  Dudley,  in  1812. 

The  first  store  was  kept  at  Farwell' s  Mills  bv  Fris- 
bie  &  Pierpont,  in  1821. 

The  iirst  scliool  vras  taught  b}'  Mrs.  Amanda  Bills. 
'i"ie  first  s(diool  house  built  in  Clarendon  stood  a 
little  south  of  Fai'wc^lTs  Mills,  or  Clarendon,  as  the 
place  is  now  being  called,  was  built  in  1813  of  logs, 
and  was  fourteen  by  eighteen  fe(^t  square. 

Frisbie  &  Pierpont  tiaded  in  the  little  red  store 
building  in  which  after  tliey  left,  David  Sturges  sold 
goods  for  many  years. 

In  addition  to  his  ])usiness  as  a  merchant  with  Mr. 
Frisbie,  William  Pierpont  kept  a  tavern,  lifter  two 
or  three  years  he  moved  away  and  Mr.  Hiram  Frisbie, 
liis  partner,  succeeded  to  the  store  and  tavern  to 
v,'hich  had  been  added  nn  ashery,  all  three  of  which 
Mr.  Frisbi(^  cai-ried  on  Uso  or  three  yeai-s,  and  until 
he  removed  to  Holley  aboiit  the  year  1828. 

in  18ir).  Jose])h  Stui-ges  built  a  distilleiy  at  Fai'- 
well's  Mills,  Vvhich  lie  carried  on  Avith  his  brothei- 
David,  eight  ov  t(^n  years,  when  Mr.  Frisbie  having 
moved  away,  and  Joseph  Sturges  having  died  in 
:March,  1828,  David  Sturges  began  to  sell  dry  goods 
and  groceries  how.  He  was  a  sharp  business  man 
and  drove  a  laige  trade.     He  was  the  next  merchant 


OF    (IKLKAXS    COrNTY.  201 

in  town  after  Pierpont  eV  Frisl)ie.  Ho  died  in  Sei)teni- 
ber,  1848. 

Judge  Eldridge  Faiv.ell  was  tlu^  tirst  postmaster  in 
town,  and  D]-.  Bussj'  the  first  pliysician. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1823,  a  Presbyterian 
Church  was  organized  in  Clarendon.  For  several 
years  it  maintained  a  feeble  existence,  nntil  in  18B1,  it 
imited  with  the  Presbyterian  Churcli  in  Ilolley,  and 
became  extinct  as  an  organization  in  Clarendon. 

The  first  town  meeting  held  in  and  for  the  town  of 
Clarendon  was  at  the  school  liouse  at  FarwelFs  Mills, 
April  4th,  1821. 

Eld  ridge  Farwell  was  a  candidate  for  Sux)ervisor 
on  the  Clinton  ticket,  and  AVilliam  Lewis  on  the 
Tompkins  ticket.  Tlie  IMeeting  was  opened  with 
prayei"  b}'  Elder  Stedman.  Tlie  election  of  Supervi- 
sor was  concluded  to  be  first  in  order.  No  chairman 
had  been  formally  appointed,  but  on  suggestion  of 
somebody  the  entire  meeting  went  out  of  doors  in 
front  of  the  school  bouse.  Some  one  held  his  hat  and 
half  a  dozen  voters  stood  by  to  see  that  nobod}^  voted 
twice,  or  cast  more  than  one  ballot,  and  ballots  for 
Supervisor  were  thrown  into  the  hat  l)y  all  the  voters 
present.  Eldridge  Farwell  was  elected  the  first  Su- 
])ervisor,  and  .loseph  M.  Hamilton,  Town  Clerk. 

Jonas  Davis  made  spinning  wheels,  and  Alanson 
Dudley  carried  on  tanning  and  shoemaking  at  Far- 
weirs  Mills,  at  an  earlv  dav. 


B10(H(APHIES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

IIOKACK     PKCK. 

'•  1  was  born  in  Farmington.  llartfoi-d  Co.,  Ct)nn.. 
April  ];■),  1802.  In  the  spring  of  1817,  I  hired  out  to 
drive  cattle,  shee})  and  hogs  to  Bufialo,  and  went  on 
Avith  a  drove.     The  mud  was  ck'<^])   and    1  had  a  hard 


202  I'lOXEEK   HI8TUKY 

time  wading  tliroiigli  it  after  my  drove.  I  went  tlirougli 
however,  and  come  back  to  FarwelVs  Mills  in  Clar- 
endon, expecting  to  meet  my  father  and  his  family 
there,  as  they  had  made  arrangements  to  move  when 
I  left  them. 

On  my  journey  back  from  Buffalo,  all  I  had  to  eat 
was  six  crackers,  and  I  drank  one  glass  of  cider. 

I  found  my  fathei-  had  not  come  on.  I  was  alone, 
but  fourteen  years  of  age,  had  but  four  dollars  in 
money,  my  jyay  for  driving  the  drove,  and  had  no 
acquaintances  there.  This  was  the  next  spring  after 
the  cold  season.  It  was  difficult  for  me  to  find  a 
place  to  stay  for  the  reason  no  one  had  an3^thing  to 
eat  or  to  spare.  I  found  friends,  however,  in  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leonard  Foster.  They  said  I  might  stay  with 
them  till  my  folks  came  on.  After  that  I  fared  well. 
They  divided  their  best  fare  with  me,  which  consisted 
of  hoe  cake  and  maple  molasses,  and  we  had  to  be 
sparing  of  that. 

I  stayed  with  m}'  benefactors  three  weeks,  when 
my  parents  and  their  family  arrived.  My  father  had 
prepared  a  small  log  cabin  shingled  with  bark  the 
summer  before.  We  moved  into  it.  All  the  provis- 
ion we  had  on  hand  to  eat  was  half  a  barrel  of  very 
lean  pork. 

My  father  had  no  money  left,  owned  no  living  crea- 
ture except  his  family.  We  had  no  table  and  only 
two  chairs.  We  had  an  acre  of  cleared  land  on  oui' 
lot  sown  witli  wlK^at.  These  were  glooni}^  times  to  me. 
The  first  thing  was  to  procure  something  to  eat.  I 
paid  my  four  dollars  to  David  Church  for  two  bushels 
of  wheat.  The  next  thing  was  to  get  somi^  straw  to 
sleep  on.  This  we  got  of  our  neighbor,  Chauncey 
Robinson,  for  two  cents  a  bundle. 

We  had  hard  fare  until  the  n(?xt  harvest.  We  ate 
bran  bread  and  had  not  enough  of  that.  After  har- 
vest we  had  enough  to  eat,  and  I  thought  at  this  time, 


OF   OKLEANS    COUNTY.  "^^ 

could  I  be  sure  of  enough  to  eat  hereafter  I  should  "be 

content. 

The  next  year  my   father  bought   a  two-year  oJit 

cow,  which  helped  us  very  unu^h. 

In  the  winter  of  1818-19,  my  eldest  brother,  Ln titer 
C  Peck,  taught  a  district  school  near  where  Holley' 
now  stands,  for  three  months,  for  which  he  was  to 
have  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  after  the   next   harvest. 

AVhen  father  received  the  wheat  the  price  had  fal- 
len Father  drew  the  wheat  to  Rochester,  and  re- 
ceived after  deducting  expenses,  thirty-one  cents  per 

bushel. 

In  1820  we  bought  a  yoke  of  oxen.  \N  e  then  cob- 
sidered  ourselves  well  of.  Previous  to  tliis  I  went  to 
school  winters.  I  went  one  winter  to  FarwelV  s  Mills, 
three  miles  from  my  fathers.  I  worked  summers 
chopping  and  logging  witli  my  father,  working  out 
for  others  when  I  could  get  an  opportunity. 

In  the  winter  of  1819-20,   I   taught   school   on  the 
'  fourtli  section  road  lor  ten  dollars  per  month.     I  fol- 
lowed that  business  for  ten  winters— had  higlier  wages 
as  I  advanced  in  experience. 

During  this  time  and  up  to  my  majority  I  began  \o 
consider  myself  a  man,  used  to  attend  parties,  would 
yoke  the  oxen  and  hitch  them  to  a  sled,  go  after  the 
young  ladies  and  wait  on  them  very  politely.  And  1 
enjoyed  it  as  well  and  even  better  than  in  after  tiiiie.s^ 
riding  in  a  fashionable  carriage. 

I  once  thought  it  quite  smart  to  visit  a  young  lady 
who  resided  in  Le  Roy.  On  one  occasion  I  had  been 
to  see  her.  had  a  very  i^leasaiit  visit,  time  passed  very 
agreeably,  and  before  I  was  aware  it  was  getting 
i-atherlate.  Sometime  T)efore  daylight,  however,  I 
started  for  honu^  on  foot  through  the  woods  near  three 
miles.  When  I  came  to  about  the  middle  of  tlie 
woods,  a  wolf  appeared  in  the  road  befori^  me.  I 
halloed  right  lustily,    the   w.^lf  left   the   road  ratlier 


204  PIONEER    HIS  TOR V 

leisurel)-,  and  I  passed  on  rapidly.  Soon  a  liowling 
commenced,  which  was  answered  hy  other  wolves  at 
a  distance,  and  before  I  got  through  the  woods,  a 
pack  of  these  animals  was  on  my  track,  and  near  to 
me  judging  hy  their  cries.  They  made  all  sorts  of 
noises  hut  pleasant  ones  to  me.  I  saved  myself  from 
them  by  the  energetic  use  of  my  locomotive  j)owers. 

I  came  readil}^  to  tlie  conclusion  that  this  business 
of  being  out  so  late  nights  'would  not  pay.' 

I  married  Miss  Amia  AVhite  January  22,  1829.  She 
was  born  June  19,  1802,  and  died  January-  15,  1834. 
I  married  Miss  Adaline  Nichols  January  81,  1836. 
She  was  born  Februaiy  6,  1809: 

HORACE  PECK." 

Clarendon,  ISTI. 

I5EX.JAMIX    G.    PETTi:;(;lLL. 

"I  was  born  in  Lewiston,  Lincoln  county,  in  the 
State  of  Maine.  In  1817,  I  started  for  the  Genesee 
country  with  my  pack  on  my  back  and  walked  to 
Portland,  thirty- five  miles,  where  I  Avent  on  board  a 
vessel  and  sailed  to  Boston.  I  left  Boston  on  foot 
with  my  pack  on  my  back  for  the  place  of  my  des- 
tination. My  pack  was  not  v^ny  heavy,  but  I  had 
in  it,  among  other  things,  forty  silver  dollars.  After 
a  hard  journe}"  I  arrived  at  Ogden,  Monro(^  cqunty, 
on  the  lirst  da}^  of  April.  I  stopped  there  a  while 
with  an  uncle  of  mine,  was  xovy  homesick,  wished 
myself  back  in  Maine  many  times. 

I  worked  out  that  summit'  In'  the  month,  and  in 
the  fall  boufrht  some  land  in  what  is  now  Clarendon, 
Orleans  county,  then  a  part  of  Sweden. 

I  settled  on  my  land,  cleared  it  up,  and  in  due  time 
raised  excellent  croi)s,  and  in  a  few  years  found  my- 
self out  of  debt  and  considered  nn^self  rather  '  fore- 
handed.' 

I  lal)nivd  hai-d  in  the  ('(tiiimciicciiHDt.  had  consider- 


OF    OliLEAXS    COUNTY.  205 

able  sickness  in  my  fainil_y,  but  a  good  Pro\idence 
lias  been  mindful  of  me  and  mine,  and  in  all  my  law- 
ful undertakings  I  have  been  blest,  foi-  wliicli  I  feel 
truly  grateful. 

BENJA3IIN  G.  PETTIXGILL." 

Clarendon,  1804. 

lilJADSTKEET   SPAFFOiJD, 

Mrs.  Harriet  S.  Merrill,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Spafibrd, 
gives  the  following  account  of  him  : 

"My  father  came  from  Connecticut  about  the  year 
1811,  and  purcliased  a  farm  about  a  mile  south  of 
Holley,  on  wliicli  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1828. 
He  was  twice  married — my  mother,  Mrs.  Eunice  Dar- 
row,  being  his  second  wife.  My  father  had  but  one 
child  by  his  first  wife,  a  daughter  named  Hester,  who 
in  after  ^^T-ars  became  I^Irs.  Daniels,  and  is  now  Mrs. 
Blonden. 

When  tliis  sister  ^vas  four  3^ears  old  her  mother 
died  of  consumption.  At  that  time  ni}^  father  s  house 
was  the  only  one  between  Holley  and  FarwelFs  Mills. 
In  other  directions  it  was  a  mile  to  the  nearest  neigh- 
bors. During  her  last  illness  my  father  was  her  prin- 
(;ipal  physician  and  nurse.  He  used  frequently  to 
sa}^  to  his  friends  he  feared  she  would  die  suddenly 
while  alone  with  him. 

It  was  arrangx^d  between  my  father  and  his  nearest 
neighbors,  that  if  anything  more  alarming  occurred 
in  her  case,  he  should  blow  the  horn  as  a  signal  for 
tliem  to  come. 

Not  long  aftei-,  at  midnight  of  a  dark  v.inter  Jiight, 
death  knocked  at  his  door  ;  he  took  the  tin  horn  and 
blew  the  warning  notes ;  but  the  winds  were  adverse. 
and  nobody  heard.  Again  and  again  he  blew,  lon- 
ger and  louder,  but  no  one  heard  or  came.  His  wife 
soon  expired.  "My  father  closed  her  oyoa,  ])laced  a 
napkin  about  her  head  and  covered  her  lifeless  form 


20Q  I'lOXEKK   IIISTOltY 

more  closely,  fearing  it  would  become  rigid  before  he 
t;oiild  obtain  assistance  to  habit  it  in  the  winding  sheet 
preparatory  for  the  tomb,  for  snch  were  tlie  habili- 
ments used  in  those  days. 

He  dressed  his  little  danghter,  placed  her  in  her  lit- 
tle chair  by  the  fire,  gave  her  her  kitten  to  play  with, 
and  told  her  to  sit  tliere  until  he  came  back.  He  then 
went  a  mile  to  liis  nearest  neighbors  and  roused 
fheni  to  come  to  his  aid,  and  returned  finding  his 
little  daughter  as  he  liad  left  lier,  alone  w4th  lier  dead 
mother. 

I  was  one  of  the  first  children  born  in  the  town  of 
Clarendon,  being  now  46  3'ears  of  age. 

HARRIET  S.  MERRILL." 

Clarendon,  .Tune  1863. 

Ts'ICHOLAS     E.    DAKKOW. 

"I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Chatham,  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y.,  April  1st,  1808  ;  have  been  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  My  father,  John  Harrow,  came  to 
WHieatland,  Mom-op  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1811,  and 
worked  there  two  seasons,  tlien  returned  to  Columbia 
county,  sold  his  farm  and  was  nearly  read}'  to  move 
his  family  to  tlie  Genesee  countr}^  when  he  was  taken 
sick  and  died  March  22d,  1813.  " 

In  June,  I8I0,  my  fjither's  faniil}^  removed  to  the 
farm  he  liad  bought  two  A-ears  previous.  My  mother, 
then  a  wddow,  married  Mr.  Bradstreet  Spattbrd,  w^ho 
had  settled  in  Clarendon,  about  the  year  1811  or  '12. 
X  grew  up  among  the  liardshijis  of  the  new  countrj^ , 
and  December  30th,  1830,  w^as  married  to  Sarah  A. 
Sweet,  daughter  of  Noali  Sweet,  wlio  came  to  Claren- 
clon  from  Saratoga  county,  in  1815.  My  wife  was 
bom  in  Saratoga  county  in  1812. 

My  lather  was  a  blacksmith  b}'  trade,  but  owned 
and  worked  a  farm.  He  w^as  one  of  the  leading  me- 
chanics  who   made  tlie  great   chain  which  was   put 


OF    OKLEA^•S    COUXI'V.  207 

across  the  Hudson  River  to  jDrevent  the  Britisli  tleet 
from  coming  nj)  in  tlie  Revolutionary  War,  links  of 
which  are  now  in  tlie  State  Librar}'  at  Albany. 

I  have  resided  most  of  the  time  since  1815,  in  Clar- 
endon ;  and  for  the  last  twenty-four  years  on  the  same 
farm.  I  lived  a  short  tiine  in  Mui'ia}'  and  a  short 
time  in  Ohio. 

I  attended  school  in  the  first  scliool  liouse  built  in 
Clarendon.  It  stood  a  little  south  of  Clai'endon  vil- 
lage, and  was  built  in  1813,  of  logs,  and  in  size  was 
about  fourteen  by  eighteen  feet  square,  with  slab  floor 
and  benches.  The  writing  desks  were  made  b}'  bor- 
ing holes  in  the  logs  in  the  wall,  driving  in  pins  and 
putting  boards  on  these. 

We  have  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living. 
M}^  second  son  is  now  serving  in  the  army  of  the  Po- 
tomac in  the  war  of  the  great  rebellion. 

I  should  have  said  in  connection  witli  my  father"  s 
history,  that  himself  and  three  of  his  brothers  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

NICHOLAS  E.  DAKROW." 
Clarendon,  April  18G4. 

ELDRIDCiE   FAUWELL. 

Eldridge  Farwell  was  born  in  A'ermont  in  1770. 

Sometime  previous  to  1811,  Mr.  Farwell  located 
near  Clarkson  village  on  the  Ridge  road,  but  removed 
in  that  year  to  the  town  of  Clarendon,  then  an  un- 
broken wilderness,  where  he  built  the  first  saw  mill 
in  that  town  on  Sandy  Creek.  This  sav.  mill  made 
the  first  boards  had  in  all  this  regioil.  In  1813,  he 
built  a  grist  mill  on  the  same  stream,  which  was  the 
pioneer  gristmill  in  that  town. 

On  the  organization  of  Orleans  count}',  ^Mr.  Farwell 
was  appointed  in  182i5  one  of  the  Judges  of  tlu^  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  which  office  he  held  five  years. 
The  village  sometimes  caHed  Farwell' s  Mills  in  the 


208  PioxEEK  Hrs'jx>i;Y 

tov/n  of  Clai'cndoii,    was   so   naiiiod   in  his  lionorlie 
Ixniig  the  lii'st  to  settle  tliere. 

He  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  JolinLee,  of  Bavre. 
Judge  Farwell  died  October  15,  1843. 

will!a:\!  lewis. 

William  Lewis  vv'as  a  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Genesee 
county.  He  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Orleans  county. 
He  had  held  the.  office  of  Snpervisor  and  Justice  of 
.tlie  Peace  in  Clarendon.  He  was  a  prompt  and  efTi- 
cient  officer,  and  a  worthy  man.  He  died  July  23d, 
1824,  aged  about  43  years. 

.UAirJIN    EVAUTS. 

]\[artin  Evarts  \vas  born  in  lliga,  ^lonroe  county, 
N.  Y.,  July  21st,  1812.  He  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Clareiidon  in  1817.  Until  within  a  few  years 
he  resided  on  the  farm  originally  taken  up  l\y  his 
father.  Mr.  Evarts  was  Supervisor  of  (Marendon  in 
1863.  He  married  Charlotte  Burnham,  August  19th, 
1835.     She  died  June  20th,  1862. 

LEMIEI.    COOK. 

Lemuel  Cook  \sas  born  in  ]S"ew  Haven  county,  Ct., 
September  10th,  1763.  His  father  died  while  Lemuel 
was  a  child,  leaving  his  widov.'  and  cliildi-cn  in  desti- 
tute  circumstanci^s. 

In  the  revolutionary  war  Iih  with  his  two  brothei's 
entered  the  army,  Lemuel  enlisting  November  1st, 
1779,  being  then  in  his  17th  year.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  June  11  th,  1783.  After  leaving  the  army 
his  poll  tax  Vv'as  remitted  to  liim  by  the  Select  ]Men  of 
his  town,  on  account  of  Avounds  he  had  received  in 
battle  while  serving  in  the  armies  of  his  countr3^  In 
1792,  he  settled  in  Pompey,  Onondaga  county.  In 
1838,  he  removed  to  Bergen,  Genesee  count3^  and  from 


OF   OllLEANS    OOIlNTY.  2U9 

thence  to  Clarendon,  wliere  lie  died  May  2()tli,  18GG. 
of  old  age,  being  102  years,  8  months  and  1 0  days  old. 
He  was  probabh''  the  oldest  man  that  has  lived  in 
Orleans  eonnty.    He  was  a  revolntionaiyjiensioner. 

ISAAC    CADY. 

.  Isaac  Cady  was  born  in  Alstead,  New  Hampshire. 
July  26,  1793.  He  married  Betsey  Pierce,  October 
26th,  1816.  He  came  to  Clarendon  in  1810.  on  foot, 
from  Kingston,  \t.,  and  located  the  land  o]i  which 
he  afti^i'wards  settled  and  lias  since  resided. 


14 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


TOWN    OF     GAINES. 

First  SotUers — Case  of  Getting  Fire — Noah  Burgess — Mrs.  Burgess — 
Catting  Logs  for  a  House — First  Orchard — First  School  House — 
Drake's  Mill  Dam  and  Saw  Mill— Organization  of  McCarty's  Mil- 
itia Company — Their  Scout  after  British  and  Indians — Dr.  Jesse 
Beach — Orange  Butler — First  Marriage — First  Birth — First  News- 
paper in  Orleans  County — First  Tavern — Store — Grist  Mill— First 
Merchants — .James  Mather  Dealing  in  Black  Salts,  &.c. — Business  at 
Gaines  Basin — Village  of  Gaines^ — Gaines  Academy — Efforts  to  Lo- 
cate Court  House  Here — Trade  in  Other  Localities — Biographies  of 
Early  Settlers. 


AINES  was  formed  from  Ridgeway,  Febnia- 
.^^5^  ry  14th,  1816,  and  included  tlie  town  of  BaiTe, 
^  and  the  principal  part  of  Carlton,  within  its 
oiiginai  limits.  William  J.  Babbitt  was  prominent!}' 
active  in  getting  this  town  organized,  and  on  his  sug- 
gestion it  was  named  Gaines,  in  honor  of  Gen.  E.  P. 
Gaines,  of  the  U.  S.  ^\-rmy. 

A  number  of  families  had  located  along  the  Ridge 
Road  before  the  war  with  England  in  1812.  One  of 
tlie  first  settlers,  if  not  the  lirst,  within  the  present 
bounds  of  the  town  of  Gaines,  was  a  Mr.  Gilbert, 
Avho  was  living  about  two  miles  east  of  Gaines  vil- 
lage, iji  1809.  He  died  in  or  about  that  year  and  was 
buried  in  Murray.  A  man  who  accompanied  the 
Avidow  and  li^\r  niece  liomefrom  the  funeral,  they  being 
all  the  lamily,  found  their  fire  had  gone  out,  and  they 
had  no  means  to  kindle  it,  until  this  man,  on  liis  way 
home  called   and  notified  Mr.  Elijah  Downer,  and  he 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  211 

sent  liis  son  several  miles  to  cany  tlieni  lire,  tliey 
being  the  nearest  neighbors. 

The  records  of  the  Holland  Land  Company  show 
that  articles  for  land  in  the  town  of  Gaines,  i)arts  of 
township  lifteen,  range  two,  were  taken  in  the  year 
1809,  by  the  following  named  persons :  Andrew  Ja- 
cox,  Whitfield  Rathbun,  William  Sibley,  Cotton  M. 
Leach,  JSToali  Bnrgess,  James  Mather,  and  Henry 
Luce. 

Turner's  Histor}^  of  the  Holland  Purchase  says: 
"Whitfield  Rathbun  was  the  pioneer  upon  all  that 
part  of  the  Ridge  Road,  in  Orleans  county,  embraced 
in  the  Holland  Purchase.'' 

Noah  Burgess  came  from  Canada  in  a  boat  with 
his  family  and  effects  and  landed  at  the  head  of  «Still- 
water,  in  Carlton.  He  located  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Ridge,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Hon.  Robert 
Anderson  and  his  son  Nahum. 

Mr.  Burgess  was  sick  and  unable  to  work  when  he 
first  arrived,  and  the  widow  Gilbert,  above  referred  to, 
took  her  oxen  and  moved  the  family  and  effects  of 
Mr.  Burgess  from  Stillwater  to  his  jjlace  on  the  Ridge, 
a  distance  of  about  four  miles.  Mrs.  Bnrgess,  avIio 
was  a  strong,  athletic  woman,  then  chopped  down 
trees  and  cut  logs  for  a  log  house,  and  Mrs.  Gilbert 
drew  them  to  the  spot  with  her  oxen,  and  the  walls 
of  the  house  were  rolled  up  from  these  logs  by  men 
who  came  along  to  look  for  land.  The  house  so  built 
was  occupied  for  a  time  b}'  Mr.  Burgess,  and  stood 
where  the  Ridge  Road  is  now  laid  in  front  of  the 
dwelling  house  of  Nahum  Anderson.  Mrs.  Burgess 
set  out  a  small  orchard  of  apple  trees  near  her  house, 
which  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  orchard  set  in 
Gaines. 

Mr.  Burgess  sold  his  land  to  William  Bradner,  and 
located  a  mile  farther  east,  where  he  died  some  twen- 


212  PIONEER  HISTORY 

ty  years  ago,  and  Mrs.  Burgess,  referred  to,  died  in^ 
the  summer  of  1869. 

Tlie  widow  Gilbert  was  a  hardy  pioneer.  The 
next  winter  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  aided  b}'' 
her  niece.  Amy  Scott,  she  cut  down  trees  to  furnish 
browse  for  a  j^oke  of  oxen  and  some  other  cattle 
through  the  winter.  Slie  removed  to  Canandaigua  in 
1811. ' 

Rowley,  AVilcox,  Leach,  Adams,  Rosier,  Sprague, 
and  Daniel  Pratt  were  some  of  the  settlers  along  the 
Ridge  in  1810. 

Daniel  Gates  came  in  1811  and  bought  an  article' 
of  a  farm,  about  two  miles  west   of  the  village  of 
Gaines,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ridge,  since  known  as 
the  Palmer  farm. 

A  former  proprietor  had  chopped  down  the  trees  on 
a  small  spot  and  built  a  cabin  of  logs,  twelve  feet 
square,  with  a  single  roof. 

The  Holland  Company  agreed  with  their  settlers  if 
the}^  would  make  a  clearing  and  build  a  log  house, 
they  might  have  the  land  two  years  Avithout  paying 
interest  on  the  purchase  monej^. 

■  This  cabin  was  built  to  save  such  interest,  and  ac- 
quired additional  notoriety  from  the  fact  that  in  this 
building  Orrin  Gleason  taught  the  first  school  in 
Gaines,  in  the  winter  of  1813. 

Henry  Drake  came  to  Gaines  in  1811.  In  1812 
he  built  a  dam  and  sawmill  on  Otter  Creek,  a  few 
rods   north  of  the  Ridge — the   first   sawmill  in  this 

tOVv'U. 

When  war  with  Great  Britain  was  declared  in  1812,.. 
the  settlers  in  this  vicinit}^  apprehending  danger  from 
their  proximity  to  the  frontier,  assembled  together 
and  elected  Eleazer  McCarty,  one  of  their  number. 
Captain,  to  lead  them  in  their  defence  if  the  settle- 
ment was  attacked  by  the  enem}'. 

In  December  1813,  the  British  burned  Lewiston, . 


OF   ORLEANS    COT':XTY.  213 

rand  news  was  brought  to  Capt.  McCarty  by  the  fleeing 
inhabitants,  that  British  and  Indians  were  coming- 
east  on  the  Ridge.  Pie  sent  a  messenger  in  the  night 
to  John  Proctor,  the  only  man  who  had  a  horse  in 
the  settlement,  to  carry  the  news  to  Murray,  and  call 
the  men  together  to  resist  them.  The  next  morning 
the  company  was  en  route  towards  the  foe.  The  next 
night  they  came  in  sight  of  Molyneaux  tavern,  ten  or 
12  miles  east  of  Lewiston,  and  saw  a  light  in  the  house. 
Captain  McCarty  halted  his  men  and  advanced  him- 
self to  reconnoiter.  Approaching  the  place  he  saw 
British  and  Indians  in  the  house,  their  guns  standing 
in  a  corner.  He  returned  to  his  men  and  brought  them 
■cautiousl}^  forward  ;  selected  a  few  to  follow  him  into 
the  house,  and  ordered  the  remainder  to  surround  it 
.  and  prevent  the  enemy  from  escaping.  IMcCarty  and 
his  party  rushed  in  at  the  door  and  sprang  between 
the  men  and  their  guns  and  ordered  them  to  surren- 
der. 

The  British  soldiers  and  tlie  Indians  had  been  help- 
ing themselves  to  liquor  in  the  tavern,  and  some  were 
•  drunk  and  asleep  on  the  floor.  The  surprise  was 
complete.  Most  of  the  i)arty  surrendered  ;  a  few  In- 
dians showed  fight  with  their  knives  and  hatchets  and 
tried  to  recover  their  guns,  and  several  of  them  were 
killed  in  tlie  melee.  One  soldier  made  a  dash  to  get 
his  gun  and  was  killed  by  McCarty  at  a  blow.  The 
remainder  surrendered  and  were  put  upon  tlieir  march 
towards  Lewiston,  near  which  our  army  had  then  ar- 
rived. One  prisoner  would  not  walk.  The  soldiers 
dragged  him  forward  on  the  ground  awhile,  and  get- 
ting tired  of  that,  Henry  Luce,  one  of  McCarty' s  men, 
declared  with  an  oath,  he  would  kill  him,  and  was 
preparing  for  the  act,  wlien  McCarty  interfered  and 
saved  his  life. 

McCarty  encamped   a  few  miles  east  of  Lewiston. 
While  there   he  went   out  with  a  number  of  his  men 


214  PIONEEK   IIISTOKY 

and  captured  a  scouting  party  of  British  soldiers  re- 
turning to  Fort  Niagara  laden  with  plunder  they 
had  taken  from  the  neighhoring  inhabitants.  Mc- 
Carty  compelled  them  to  carry  the  plunder  hack  to 
its  owners,  and  then  sent  them  prisoners  of  war  to 
Batavia. 

After  fifteen  or  twenty  da3"s  service,  McCarty's 
company  was  discharged  and  returned  home.  Most 
of  his  men  resided  in  Gaines,  and  comprised  nearly 
all  the  men  in  town. 

The  first  regular  practicing  physician  in  Gaines  was 
Dr.  Jesse  Beach. 

The  first  licensed  attorney  was  Orange  Butler,  who 
settled  here  before  it  was  determined  whether  the 
county  seat  would  be  Gaines  or  Albion.  Judge  Eli- 
jah Foot  and  W.  W.  Ruggies  followed  soon  after. 

The  first  marriage  in  Gaines  was  that  of  Andrew 
Jacobs  to  Sally  Wing,  in  the  fall  of  1810  or  '11. 

The  first  child  born  in  Gaines  was  Samuel  Crippeiiy  ■ 
Jr.,  in  1809. 

The  first  printing  press  in  Orleans  county  was  lo- 
cated in  Gaines,  by  Seymour  Trac}',  who  published 
the  first  newspaper  there.  Tracy  was  succeeded  by 
John  Fisk. 

The  publication  of  this  paper  commenced  about 
1824,  and  continued  about  four  years. 

The  first  gristmill  was  built  on  Otter  Creek,  about 
the  year  1822,  by  Jonathan  Gates. 

The  first  tavern  was  kept  by  AVilliam  Sibley  iii 
1811.  The  first  store  was  kept  by  William  Perry  in 
1815. 

Among  the  early  merchants  were  E.  «5t.  E.  D.  Nich- 
ols, Y.  R,  Hawkins,  and  J.  J.  Walbridge. 

James  Mather,  though  he  never  kept  a  store  of 
goods,  was  an  active  trader  in  "black  salts,"  potash, 
and  staves,  which  he  purchased  from  the  settlers  and 
took   to   the  mouth   of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  or  Gene- 


OF   OllLEAlS^S    COUNTY.  215 

see  River,  and  sliipped  to  Montreal,  for  wliicii  lie  paid 
in  iron,  salt  lisli,  leather,  and  some  kinds  of  coarse 
goods  most  needed,  and  some  money. 

Money  to  pa}^  taxes,  and  to  meet  the  pressing  wants 
of  the  pioneers  in  this  vicinity,  was  for  some  time 
mainly  derived  from  this  source. 

The  merchants  of  Gaines  hnilt  a  warehouse  at 
Gaines'  Basin,  on  the  canal,  sooji  after  the  canal  was 
navigable,  where  the  goods  for  Gaines  and  other 
towns  north  were  mainly  landed  from  the  boats  and 
where  the  produce  from  the  same  region  vv-as  princi- 
pally shipped. 

A  brisk  business  was  done  here  for  some  }'ears, 
and  until  the  improvement  in  the  highways,  and  the 
growth  and  competition  of  neighboring  villages  had 
drawn  the  trade  elsewhere,  when  this  warehouse  was 
removed. 

About  the  time  the  canahwas  completed,  the  vil- 
lage of  Gaines  was  a  place  of  more  trade  and  busi- 
ness than  any  other  in  the  county. 

E.  &.  E.  D.  Mchols,  Y.  R.  Hawkins,  Bushnell  ^c 
Guernsey,  and  John  J.  AValbridge  were  thriving  mer- 
chants, doing  a  lively  business  in  the  dry  goo<]s 
trade. 

A  full  line  of  mechanics  shops  was  established. 
The  only  academy,  meeting  house  and  printing  press 
in  Oi'leans  county  were  located  here. 

Two  hotels  were  well  patronized  ;  stage  coaches 
were  plenty  on  the  famous  Ridge  Road,  and  every- 
thing considered  the  good  people  of  Gaines,  and  most 
of  the  county  in  fact,  excepting  Newport,  since 
named  Albion,  thought  the  court  house  would  be 
built  in  Gaines  sureh',  and  they  put  up  the  price  of 
village  lots  accordingly^  while  the  peo])le  of  New- 
port, or  Mu(lx>ort,  as  Gaines  men  called  it,  wh(>n  con- 
trasting places  as  sites  for  a  Gonrt  House,  offered  to 


216  iMONEKK  iii>;tohy 

give  away  lots,  and  do  many  other  generous  acts  if 
the  Court  House  was  located  there. 

But  the  court  house  went  to  Albion,  and  the  stream 
of  travel  which  once  went  on  the  Ridge,  took  to 
the  boats  on  the  canal,  and  the  post  coaches  hauled 
off;  villages  grew  up  along  the  canal  and  trade 
w^ent  there. 

The  resolute  business  men  of  Gaines  tried  hard  to 
retain  their  high  position,  they  got  their  academy  and 
their  village  and  a  bank  (The  Farmer's  Bank  of  Or- 
leans) incorporated  b}'  the  Legislature,  and  lowered 
the  price  of  building  lots.  But  their  glory  had  de- 
parted ;  their  acadeni}*  stoi)ped,  village  franchises 
were  lost  by  non-user  ;  their  ])ank  went  to  the  bad  ; 
but  tlieir  tine  fai-ms,  choice  garden  spots,  and  un- 
rivaled  Ridge  Road  remain  good  as  ever. 


BJOdHAPHIES  OF  EARLY  SETTLEKS. 

KICUA  \ID      TIIEADWKLI,. 

•'  1  was  born  in  AVeston,  Fairheld  county,  Connect- 
icut, May  15th,  1783.  In  the  winter  of  1790,  my 
father,  iu  c(jmpany  with  a  neighbor  set  out  to  move 
his  family  to  the  Genesee  country.  He  had  a  covered 
sled  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  span  of  horses. 
I  well  recollect  as  w(?  weie  about  to  start,  our  friends 
around  us  tliought  my  parents  verj^  cruel  to  take  their 
childreji  away  to  tlie  Genesee  to  be  murdered  by  the 
Indians. 

My  fatlier  and  all  his  children  had  the  measles  while 
Oil  the  Journey.  My  father  ne^er  fully  r<:'covered  and 
died  the  next  August.  My  mother  was  then  left  a 
widow  witli  seven  children,  of  wlioni  I  was  the  (>ldest, 
being  th<m  thirteen  }'ears  old. 

When  I  was  about  fii'teeu  years  old  I  revisited  my 
nativ(»   town  and   took   along   some  bear  skins  and 


OF   ORLEANS   COUXTY.  217 

other  skins,  to  exhibit  as  trophies  of  my  skill  as  a 
;himter. 

I  attended  school  some  and  worked  out  the  remain- 
der of  the  time  till  fall,  then  returned  to  my  mother 
on  foot,  and  then  went  to  work  to  help  her  support 
her  family. 

After  my  father  s  death,  my  mother  sold  her  oxen 
for  one  hundred  dollars  and  took  a  note  in  payment. 
The  maker  of  the  note  failed  and  mother  never  re- 
ceived five  dollars  on  the  debt.  One  of  her  horses 
died,  and  the  other  was  so  ugl}^  she  gave  him  away, 
:and  thus  lost  her  team,  and  the  bears  killed  all  her 
hogs. 

When  I  was  eighteen  or  twenty  years  old  I  resolved 
to  build  a  log  house  for  mother  on  the  land  my  father 
took  up.  It  was  usual  then  to  raise  such  buildings 
at  a  'bee,'  and  that  could  not  be  done  without 
whisky. 

I  went  to  a  distillery  in  Bloomfield  on  horseback, 
with  two  wooden  bottles  in  a  bag  to  get  the  liquor. 
Following  the  Indian  trail  through  the  woods  on  ni}' 
way  back,  I  saw  a  cub  climbing  a  tree  and  the 
mother  bear  coming  towards  me  with  hair  erect  and 
about  two  rods  off.  I  put  whip  and  spur  to  my 
horse  and  did  not  stop  to  look  back  until  I  was  out 
of  her  reach.  I  had  a  small  fiock  of  sheep  about 
that  time.  Neglecting  to  yard  them  one  night,  the 
wolves  killed  nearly  all  of  them. 

A  year  or  two  after  I  first  came  into  the  country,  a 
man  hired  me  to  take  a  horse  to  the  Genesee  River, 
where  Rochester  now  stands.  There  was  but  one 
house  on  that  road  then.  I  forded  the  river  with  ni}' 
horse. 

I  was  married  January  17th,  1809,  to  Miss  Temper- 
,ance  Smith,  of  Palmj'ra.  She  died  in  May  follow- 
ing. 

For  several  years  after  I  came  into   the  county,  the 


218  PIOXEER   IIISTOllY 

Indians  were  numerous  liere,  hundreds  of  Indians  to 
one  wliite  man.  They  were  veiy  friendly.  I  used  to 
go  to  their  wigwams  and  have  sport  with  tlieni  wrest- 
ling and  pulling  sticl^,-  at  which  I  was  an  expert,  fre- 
qentl}"  throwing  their  smartest  young  men  at  '  back 
hold,'  or  what  we  called  'Indian  hug.' 

Bears,  wolves  and  raccoons  were  plenty,  and  I 
caught  them  frequently. 

In  March,  1810,  I  married  Frances  Bennett,  and 
commenced  house-keeping  again,  and  went  to  work 
clearing  my  land.  I  think  I  have  chopped  and  log- 
ged off  as  much  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  my 
day. 

I  have  had  the  fever  and  ague  several  times,  but 
generally  ]ei:  it  work  itself  off.  I  used  to  work  hard  all 
day  in  my  fallow,  and  frequentl}^  worked  evenings 
there  when  it  was  good  weather. 

My  wife  would  often  come  out  when  I  was  at  work 
and  sometimes  helj)  me  pile  brush. 

During  the  war  with  England  I  was  several  times 
called  out  to  do  militar}^  duty. 

I  moved  into  the  town  of  Shelby  in  1827,  and  after 
a  few  years  sold  out  and  moved  to  Gaines,  on  the 
farm  on  wliich  I  now  reside. 

RICHARD  TREADWELL." 

Gaines,  1863. 

Mr.  Treadvvell  died  June  9th,  18G6  aged  83  years. 

W  A  LTER     FAI  KFIELl) . 

"I  was  born  in  Pittsford,  Vermont,  September  10, 
1788.  I  married  Polly  Ilarvrood,  in  Pittsford,  in  1809, 
In  August,  1810,  I  bought  the  farm  I  now  own,  in  the 
town  of  Gaines,  of  the  Land  Compan}^,  for  $2,50 
cents  per  acre,  part  of  lot  five,  town  fifteen,  range 
two,  on  the  Oak  Orchard  Eoad,  about  a  mile  south 
of  the  Ridge. 

In  February,  18T1,  I  moved  my  wife  from  Vennont 


OF   ORLEANS  COUNTY.  219 

to  Gaines,  and  in  April  of  that  year  we  moved  into  a 
log  cabin,  in  wliich  James  Mather  was  then  keeping 
bachelor's  hall,  and  lived  with  him.  ' In  Jnne  after- 
wards I  put  up  a  log  house  18  by  20  feet  square  and 
covered  it  with  bark,  with  split  basswood  logs  for  a 
floor  sufficient  to  set  a  bed  on,  and  then  we  moved  in. 
Our  nearest  neighbors  south  following  the  Oak  Or- 
chard Road,  were  south  of  tlie   Tonawanda  Swamp. 

In  August  follow^ing  my  wife  was  taken  sick.  I 
could  get  no  one  to  help  about  house,  for  such  help 
was  not  in  the  country,  and  I  was  compelled  to  leave 
my  work  and  attend  to  my  wife  for  six  weeks,  during 
which  time  I  did  not  take  off  my  clothes  except  to 
change  them. 

I  was  poor  and  had  to  work  out  for  all  I  liad.  I 
came  very  near  being  homesick  then,  but  I  stood  it 
through.  The  next  winter  I  chopped  two  or  three 
acres  on  my  land,  and  in  the  spring  burned  the  brush 
and  planted  it  witli  corn  among  the  logs,  but  squir- 
rels and  birds  got  the  greater  j^art  of  it,  so  we  got  but 
little  corn  that  3'eai-. 

In  the  spring  of  1812,  some  families  located  south  of 
Avhere  Albion  now  is.  Of  those  families  I  had  stop- 
ping at  my  house  at  one  time,  while  the}^  were  building 
tlieir  cabins,  William  McCollister,  Josepli  Hart,  Silas 
Benton,  Elijah  Darrow,  Frederick  Holsenburgh, 
and  John  Holsenburgh,  and  the  families  of  some  of 
them. 

The  war  of  1812  ])ut  a  stop  to  the  settlement  for 
a  while.  We  were  troubled  some  with  British  desert- 
ers. 

Up  to  1813,  our  provisions  were  mainly  fish,  pota- 
toes, and  turnips,  ^ — that  is  anumg  the  poorer  class  of 
settlers  like  m3^self.  Sometimes  we  would  have  hulled 
wheat  and  hulled  corn.  Sometimes  I  went  to  Parma 
or  Rochester  to  mill,  and  when  I  got  back  my  grist 
would  not  ])ay  my  expenses.  • 


220  PIOXEKK   IIISTOIIY 

After  the  war  and  the  cold  seasons,  tlie  county 
filled  uj)  with  settlers  very  fast.  Roads  and  improve- 
ments were  made,  and  the  land  cleared  up  and  culti- 
vated, anddlie  conveniences  and  comforts  of  life  pro- 
cured, thus  relieving  the  wants  of  the  people  and 
supplying  their  needs. 

WALTER  FAIRFIELD." 

Gaines,  I8G0. 

Mr.  Walter  Fairfield  died  January  9tli,  1865. 

JOHN    PKOCTOIt. 

"I  was  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dunstable,  Mid- 
dlesex county,  Massachusetts,  January  22d,  1787. 
In  March,  1810,  I  arrived  in  Batavia,  since  changed 
to  Gaines,  on  the  Holland  Purchase,  and  purchased 
a  lot  of  land  near  the  Transit  Line.  I  chopped  over 
five  acres  of  land  and  built  a  log  cabin  in  wiiat  was 
then  called  the  'Nine  Mile  Woods.'  My  cabin  was 
situated  seven  miles  from  any  cabin  going  east,  and 
two  miles  west.  There  were  no  iubabitants  going 
south  nearer  than  Batavia  village.  IL^re  I  kept  bache- 
lor's  hall,  sleeping  in  the  open  air  on  hemlock  boughs 
until  I  had  completed  the  roof  of  my  cabin,  which  I 
covered  with  bark.  I  had  to  travel  seven  miles  to 
get  bread  baked. 

I  w^ent  to  Massachusetts  in  the  sununer  and  re- 
turned to  my  cabin  in  January.  In  the  spring  of 
1811,  I  cleared  oft'  and  planted  tlii'ee  acres  to  corn, 
and  in  the  fall  sowed  five  acres  to  wheat. 

In  December  I  went  back  to  Massachusetts  on  foot. 
February  11th,  1812,  I  was  married  to  Miss  Polly 
Cummings,  of  Dunstable,  and  started  on  the  12th 
with  my  wife  for  my  home  in  the  woods,  in  a  sleigh 
drawn  by  two  horses. 

When  we  arrived  at  oui'  new  home,  at  what  has  since 
been  called  Fair  Haven,  in  the  town  of  Gaines,  there 
were  but   three  famili<'s  in  GaiiK\^,   viz.:  Elijah  Dow- 


OF   OllLEAXS    COUNTY.  221 

ner,  Ani}^  Gibert,  and Elliott.     Tlie   nearest 

grist  mill  was  at  Black  Creek,  twenty  mik^s  distant, 
and  on  account  of  bad  roads  it  was  as  eas}'  for  us  to 
go  to  Rochester  to  mill,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles. 

In  the  fall  of  1812, 1  harvested  a  good  crop  of  wheat 
and  corn. 

In  the  winter  of  1818-14,  the  British  and  Indians 
came .  over  from  Canada  and  massacred  several  of 
the  inhabitants  on  the  frontier,  3,nd  many  of  the  set- 
tlers Hed  out  of  the  country  for  safety.  The  people 
throughout  this  region  were  in  great  consternation. 
The  news  of  th(»  approach  of  the  savages  spread  rap- 
idly. 

AVilliam  Burlingame,  who  resided  about  four  miles 
west  of  my  place  on  the  Ridge,  called  me  out  of  bed 
and  requested  me  to  go  immediatel}^  and  arouse  the 
people  east.  I  immediately  mounted  my  horse,  the 
only  horse  then  owned  in  the  vicinitj^,  and  before  next 
day  liglit  visit(>d  all  the  inhabitants  as  far  east  as 
Clarkson. 

The  effect  of  the  notice  was  almost  electric,  for 
quite  a  regiment  of  men  in  number  w^ere  on  the  move 
early  the  next  morning,  to  check  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  We  marclied  west  to  a  place  called  Hard- 
scrabble,  near  Lewiston,  and  there  perfoimed  a  sort 
of  garrison  duty  for  two  weeks,  when  I  with  some 
others  returned,  for,  having  been  elected  collector  of 
of  taxes,  it  became  necessary  for  me  to  attend  to  the 
duties  of  my  office. 

Again  in  September,  Avhile  the  war  was  in  progress 
at  and  near  Fort  Erie,  in  Canada,  news  came  to  us 
tliat  the  British  were  about  to  attack  the  Fort  and 
our  troops  there  must  be  reinforced.  In  conqoany 
with  several  others  I  volunteered  to  go  to  their  relief. 
On  arriving  at  the  Fort,  via.  Buffalo,  we  made  several 
attacks  on  the  enemy  near  th(.'  Fort,  and  in  the  wood? 
opposite  Black  Rock. 


222  PIOJfEER   IIISTOKY 

A  sortie  was  made  from  the  Fort  Sej)tember  ITtli, 
ill  wliicli  we  routed  tlie  enemy.  In  tliese  actions  sev- 
eral bullets  passed  tlirougli  my  clothes,  and  one 
grazed  my  finger. 

A  man  of  our  company  named  Howard  was  killed, 
another  named  Sheldon  was  wounded  in  the  shoul- 
der, and  Moses  Bacon  was  taken  prisoner  and  carried 
to  Halifax. 

In  that  sortie  General  Davis,  of  Le  Roy,  was 
killed,  and  Gen.  Peter  B.  Porter  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  rescued  again  the  same  day.  We  came  home 
after  an  absence  of  twenty -four  days. 

About  Fel)ruary  1st,  1815,  I  was  notified  to  attend 
the  sitting  of  the  court  in  Batavia  as  constable.  Ow- 
ing to  the  situation  of  my  faniil}^  I  could  not  be  long 
absent  from  home  ;  and  in  oi'der  to  get  released  from 
court,  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  appear  before  the 
judge;  so  taking  a  rather  early  start  I  reached  Batavia 
before  the  court  had  0]3ened  in  the  morning.  After 
the  court  liad  organized  for  business  I  presented  my 
excuse  and  was  discharged. 

After  that  I  collected  over  one  hundred  dollars 
taxes,  made  my  returns  as  town  collector,  on  half  a 
a  sheet  of  paper,  took  a  deed  of  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  of  the  Holland  Company,  and  an  article  for 
another  hundred  acres  and  started  for  home,  where  I 
arrived  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  liaving 
traveled  a  distance  of  not  less  than  forty-four  miles. 

In  December,  1818,  I  made  arrangements  to  visit 
my  friends  in  Massachusetts,  on  horseback.  Several 
of  my  neighbors  were  in  to  see  me  off.  As  I  was 
about  to  mount  my  horse  a  deer  came  down  the  creek 
from  the  south.  I  ran  into  the  house  and  got  my 
gun  and  some  cartridges  I  brought  from  the  war, 
loaded  my  gun  as  I  ran  out,  and  as  the  deer  was 
passing  leveled  my  gun  and  snapped  it,  but  it  missed 
lire.    I  took  up  a  stone  and  struck  the  Hint,  and  snap- 


OF    OliLKANS    ('OUNT\.  22o 

ped  tlie  gun  again  before  the  deer  got  out  of  range. 
This  time  it  discliarged  killing  the  deer  instantly.  I 
remained  now  and  helped  dress  the  deer  and  divided 
it  with  our  neighbors,  and  then  went  on  my  Journey. 
I  rode  to  Vermont,  there  exchanged  my  horse  and 
saddle  for  a  cutter  and  another  horse,  and  drove 
to  my  destination,  near  Boston.  After  an  ab- 
sence of  about  sixty  days  I  returned  home  in  time  to 
dine  oif  a  piece  of  the  venison  I  killed  just  before 
starting,  which  had  been  kept  by  my  wife. 

Our  associations  in  our  wilderness  home  undergo- 
ing fatigue  and  hardships  together,  sharing  alike  in 
gratitude  for  every  success,  and  in  sympathy'  for 
every  adversity,  bound  the  early  settlers  together  as 
a  band  of  brothers. 

For  many  years  our  religious  worship  was  held  in 
common  together,  with  no  denominational  distinc- 
tions. 

JOHN  PROCTOR." 

Gaines,  June  IbGo. 

Mr.  John  Proctor  died  in  1868. 

SAMUEL     HILL. 

"  I  was  born  in  Barrington,  Rockingham  county, 
N.  IL,  November  18th,  1793.  I  was  married  Febru- 
ary 28th,  1815,  to  Miss  Olive  Knight. 

In  the  winter  of  1823  we  moved  to  Gaiiies,  with 
means  litth'  more  than  enough  to  defray  the  expense  of 
the  journey,  and  settled  on  part  of  the  farm  on  which 
I  now  reside.  AYe  began  by  building  a  log  house,  the 
crevices  between  tlie  logs  serving  for  windows.  The 
children  would  sit  on  the  fire  sill  in  front  of  where 
was  to  be  a  chimney.  Thus  we  lived  from  May  10th, 
to  fall,  whcni  we  made  our  house  comfortable  for 
winter. 

M}"  father  was  a  pra(;tical  farmer,  and  my  first  rec- 


224  PIONEEK   HISTORY 

ollections  of  work  were  of  helping  clear  land.  He 
with  the  help  of  his  ho3^s,  of  whom  I  was  eldest  but 
one,  cleared  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 

Begining  with  little,  we  have  by  hard  labor,  strict 
economy  and  the  blessing  of  God,  succeeded  in  se- 
curing a  comfortable  home  and  a  competence  of  this 
world' s  goods. 

SAMUEL  HILL." 

Gaines,  March  18G4. 

SAMUEL   SALSBUKY. 

"  I  was  born  in  Newport,  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.y 
July  24,  1804.  In  January,  1817, 1  removed  with  my 
brother  Stephen  to  the  Holland  Purchase  and  settled 
in  Ridgeway.  The  country  with  few  exceptions  Avas 
a  wilderness.  Provisions  were  scarce  and  dear, 
wheat  worth  three  dollars  a  bushel,  corn  two  dollars, 
potatoes  one  dollar,  and  other  things  in  proportion. 
Before  harvest  nearly  ever}^  family  was  destitute  of 
bread.  Their  resort  for  a  substitute  was  to  the  grow- 
ing wlieat,  which  was  boiled  and  eaten  with  milk  ;  or 
by  adding  a  little  cream  and  maple  sugar  together,  to 
make  a  kind  of  dessert  after  a  meal  of  potatoes  and 
butter,  and  possibly  a  little  deer,  squirrel  and  raccoon 
meat. 

Our  milk  was  strongly  flavored  with  leeks  occas- 
ionally, with  which  our  native  '  pastures '  abounded, 
but  we  used  to  correct  this  by  eating  a  fresh  leak 
before  eating  the  milk.  AVe  had  plenty  of  maple 
sugar. 

School  houses  were  scarce,  and  of  churches  there 
were  none.  I  attended  school  in  a  log  house  two  miles 
from  home,  south  of  what  is  now  Lyndonvilh^,  and 
this  school  house  was  for  many  years  used  as  a  place 
for  worship.  Here  I  used  to  hear  Elder  Irons  and 
Elder  Dutcher,  Bajitists,  and  Elders  Paddock, 
Boardman,  Hall,  and  Puffer,  Methodists. 


OF   ORLEANS    CorNTY.  'iSf) 

Among  my  early  school  tcarliers  weiv  Gen.  AV.  C. 
Tanner  and  Mrs.  Mastin. 

C]iop2)ing,  clearing  and  fencing  land  wa.s  the  prin- 
cipal business  in  those  days. 

My  last  feat  in  chopping  was  in  1832,  when  I  walked 
three  miles  morning  and  evening,  and  chopped  over 
three  acres,  leaving  it  fitted  for  logging  in  ten  and  a 
half  days. 

In  FeTn*narv,  182o,  I  crossed  Niagara  river  on  the 
ice  wdiich  had  Avedged  in  near  tlie  niouth  of  the  river. 
It  was  a  warm  day,  the  water  was  on  the  ice  and 
large  openings  were  frequent.  In  one  place  a  seam 
of  open  w'ater  three  feet  across  was  passed  on  aboard, 
which  served  as  a  bridge.     I  crossed  in  safety. 

In  the  winter  of  1826-7,  I  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Clmrch.  I  had  never,  to  this  time,  heai'd  a 
temperance  lecture  or  known  anything  of  temperance- 
societies,  but  from  that  time  I  believed  it  wicked  to 
use  intoxicating  drinks  as  a  beveragv,  and  I  have 
never  used  them  since. 

I  was  mai-ried  to  Miss  Eh'<'ta  Beal,  February  23d, 
1829. 

I  was  licensed  to  pi-eached  t\u)  gospel  in  July,  1882, 
by  the  Conference  sitting  in  P<mn  Yan.  Till  then 
I  had  been  a  farmer  and  school  teacher.  Fron> 
that  time  till  1844,  I  labored  in  that  vicinity  in  tlu 
Methodist  Episcopal  (Jhurcli.  In  May.  1843,  ] 
withdrew  from  that  church  and  joined  in  organizing 
the  Wesleyan  INIethodist  Connexion  of  America,  and 
from  then  since,  I  have  labor<Hl  as  a  minister  in  that 
Connexion. 

SAMUEL  BAMSBURY." 
Eagle  Harbor,  .March  1804. 

I'KKKY      DAVIS. 

Perry  Davis  was  l)orn  in  \V<^stpo]t.  Massachusetts, 
January  1  st,  1 773. 
15 


226  PIONKKJt    UISTOUY 

In  1793,  lie  niairied  Keln'cca  Potter.  Slie  died  May 
12th,  182o. 

After  his  marriage,  lie  resided  about  thirteen  years 
in  Galway,  Saratoga  county.  He  tlien  resided  about 
•eighteen  years  in  Palmyra.  N.  Y.;  and  in  1823,  re- 
moved to  (laines,  and  took  up  land  near  the  mouth 
•of  Otter  Cr'^ek  ;  and  in  1825,  removed  to  the  village  of 
^raines  and  Iwuglit  tlu^  farm  next  north  of  the  Ridge, 
And  west  of  the  Oak  Oiehard  Koad.  He  was  an  ac- 
tive business  man,  being  engaged  at  different  times 
SIS  a  merchant,  farmer,  s(;hool  teacher,  and  manufacv 
turer  ;  and  while  residing  in  (raines,  superintending 
at  the  sam»^  time  three  farms,  a  sawmill,  a  giistmill, 
and  a  small  iron  foundry,  all  in  operation.  He  was 
deacon,  and  a  prominent  membei-  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  (faines. 

He  had  eight  daughters,  viz.:  Barbara,  who  died  in 
childhood  ;  Rowena  married  William  Hayden  ;  Cyn- 
thia married  Daniel  Ball :  Ciiiderilla  married  Samuel 
Parker ;  Mary  manied  Richard  Workman  ;  Ann 
married  AVilliam  AV.Ruggles;  Eliza  married  Elonzo  G. 
Hewitt ;  and  Laura  married  Di*.  Alfred  Babcock.  In 
1827,  he  married  Sarah  Toby,  of  Stockton,  N.  Y. 
She  died  November  4th.  18r)0.  Mr.  Davis  died  April 
:Jd,  1841. 

[.KVl      ATWKl.r.. 

Levi  Atwell  was  born  in  Canaan,  Columbia  count}', 
N.  Y. 

He  m!irried  Mabel  Stoddard,  and  moved  from  Cay- 
uga county  to  Gaities  in  February,  1812,  and  took  an 
article?  of  ])art  of  lot  fort\'-four.  township  fifteen, 
range  two,  and  resided  on  tlie  same  land  until  he 
died,  February,  1847. 

He  t<K'k  up  his  land  in  A})ril.  1811,  and  in  June 
after  he   came  on.  chopp^**!    down  the  trees   on  a  few 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  227 

.  acres,  and  that  season  put  up  a  log  house,  into  whicli 
he  moved  his  famil}'  when  they  came. 
His  brothers-in-law,  Gideon  Freeman  and  Joseph 

:  Stoddard,  came  on  and  took  up  land  at  the  same 
time.  He  remained  on  his  land  during  the  war  mtli 
England. 

The  house  into  which  he  moved  had  no  door,  or 
window  or  floor  except  the  earth,  and  not  a  board 

.  about  it.  Tlie  logs  had  been  merely  rolled  up  for  the 
walls,  without  stopping  the  crevices  between  them. 
The  roof  was  covered  with  "shakes"  split  from  oak 
trees  like  stave  bolts,  about  three  feet  long,  laid  on 
in  courses  like  shingles,  without  nails,  and  held  on 
by  poles  laid  on  transversely,  with  no  chimney,  but  a 
large  hole  in  the   roof  left  for  the  smoke,  and  whicli 

.  admitted  the  light. 

The  snow  was  about  three  feet  deep.     A  huge  fire 

-was  kept  up  in  one  end  of  the  cabin  ;  this  heated  the 
roof  and  melted  the   snow,  which   dripped  most  un- 

.  comf(jrtably  upon  everything  in  the  house.  A  blan- 
ket hung  at  the  doorway  closed  that,  and  chips 
driven  into  the  crevices  between  the  logs  stopped 
them  in  part  till  spring,  when  stones  were  laid  for  a 
hearth,  and  a  stick  chimney  put  in. 

Mr.  Atwcll   had  a  yoke   of  oxen  and   several  other 

►  cattle  that  arrived  a  few  days  after  he  brought  his 
family.  He  brought  several  bushels  of  ears  of  corn 
when  he  moved  in,  which  he  dealt  out  sparingly  to 
his  stock.  They  had  no  other  food  except  the  trees 
he  cut  down  for  them  to  browse,  until  they  could  get 
their  living  in  the  woods  in  the  spring. 

His  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, the  youngest  ab(mt  two  years  old.  His  chil- 
dren's  names  wei-e  Ira,  Abbey,  Roxy,  Joseph  and 
Martin. 

In  the  fall  of  1812,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Crofoot 

■  died  in  the   neighborhood.     No   boards  to  inak^'  his 


228  PIONEEK    HISTORY 

coffin  could  be  found,  not  in  use  in  tiie  settlement. 
W^hen  Mr.  Atwell  moved  in  his  family,  he  brought 
a  board  for  a  side-board,  on  his  sled.  This  he  had  put 
up  for  a  shelf  in  his  house  for  dishes,  &c.,  and  this 
shelf,  and  a  board  from  some  other  house  were  taken 
for  the  coffin,  in  wliich  the  corpse  was  buried. 

SAMl'EL     C.    LEWIS. 

Samuel  C.  Lewis  was  born  in  Poultney,  Vermont, 
June  8th,  1796.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  enlisted 
in  the  United  States  Army  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  served  in  a  company  commanded  by  Captain 
Miller,  who  was  founder  of  the  sect  since  known  as 
Millerites,  or  Second  Adventists.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Plattsburgh,  and  al  French  Mills.  He  served 
in  th(?  army  about  two  years. 

In  February,  1816,  in  company  with  his  brother 
<Tideon,  Roswell  and  Amos  Clift,  Elias  Clift,  and 
their  sister  Esther  Clift,  who  afterwards  married  Guy 
('.  Merrill,  he  came  in  a  lumber  wagon  drawn  by  two 
yoke  of  Oxen,  from  Poultne}^,  A^ermont,  to  Gfaines, 
b(4ng  twent}'-live  days  on  the  road,  arriving  in  Gaines 
March  lOth,"^  1816. 

Arba  Chubb,  a  brother-in-law  of  the  Lewises,  with 
his  wife  and  child,  arrived  in  Gaines  the  day  before 
j\Ir.  Lewis  and  company,  and  moved  into  the  log 
house  l)uilt  by  Mrs.  Burgess,  near  where  Judge  An- 
derson now  resides.  The  house  had  not  been  occu- 
])ied  for  some  time  previous,  and  was  not  in  good  con- 
dition to  inhabit  ;  but  it  was  the  best  they  could  get, 
and  the  three  Lewis  brothers  went  there  to  stay  with 
Mr.  Chubb.  They  had  cleared  away  the  snow  and 
got  a  good  supply  of  fuel  for  their  fire  heaped  up 
against  the  stoned  up  end  of  tlie  house,  which  served 
as  a  cliimney  the  night  after  their  arrival,  as  the 
weather  was  stormy  and  cold,  and  the  house  had. 
large  ci-evices  open  between  the  logs. 


OF   ORLEANS    COrNTY.  229 

Mr.  Chubb  and  liis  family  had  a  bed  in  a  coiiier  of 
the  room,  while  the  three  young  men  lay  on  the  flooj- 
with  their  feet  to  tlie  fire.  In  tlie  night  tlie  great  lire 
thawed  out  tlie  old  ehimne}^,  and  the  Avhole  pile  fell 
forward  into  the  room,  luckily,  however,  without 
crushing  any  of  the  persons  sleeping  there.  Next 
morning  they  piled  the  stones  back  in  their  places, 
and  made  a  chimney  that  answered  their  purpose. 

Mr.  Lewis  and  his  brother  bouglit  of  Lansing- 
Bailey,  an  article  for  one  hundred  and  twenty-live 
acres  of  land,  lying  at  Gaines  Basin,  on  whicli  Mi-. 
Bailey  had  built  a  log  house,  which  had  not  a  shingle 
or  nail  in  it,   all  pieces   being  fastened  with    wooden 

pins. 

On  this  lot  they  labored  clearing  land  the  next 
summer,  occupying  their  house,  and  getting  their 
cooking  and  washing  done  in  Mr. Bailey's  family, on  an 
adjoining  lot,  for  which  they  worked  for  Mv.  Baile}' 
every  seventh  day  that  season  to  pay  him. 

Samuel  C.  Lewis  married  Anna  Frisbie,  in  March 
1819.     She  died  the  next  yc^ar. 

January  80tli,  1824,  he  married  Anna  AVaiiiei-,  of 
Cornwall,  Vt.     She  died  April  10th,  1841. 

Mr.  Lewis  retains  and  resides  on  the  lot  of  land  on 
which  he  first  settled. 

H(^  has  walked  and  can-ied  his  knapsack  on  his 
back,  twelve  times  the  whole  distance  between  Gaines 
and  Poultney,  At.  Once  he  performed  the  joui-ney 
in  October,  in  six  da^'s,  walking  on  an  average  nearlA' 
fifty  miles  a  day. 

In  the  year  1819,  he  had  a  tax  to  ))ay  and  wanted 
a  dollar  to  make  the  sum  recpiired.  To  raise  the 
money,  he  cut  four  cords  of  body  mai)le  wood  and 
drew  it  a  mile  and  sold  it  to  Oliver  Booth  for  tweiity- 
iive  cents  a  (!ord,  and  so  paid  his  tax. 
<;iDEON  s.    LEwrs. 

Gideon  S.  Li'wis   was  born   in  Poultney.  \'ei-mont. 


280  FIONEKK   UI8T0KY 

September,  1792.     He  married  Betsey  Mason,  daugh-- 
ter  of  the  late  Jesse  Mason,  of  Bane,  N.  Y.,  in  the  • 
fall  of  1820.     She  died  in  September,  1842.     He  then 
married  Betsey  Shelley,  of  Gaines.    He  had  four  chil- 
dren, Lestina,  who  married  Henry  Cox  ;  Homer,  who  • 
studied  medicine,  and   died  some  years  ago  ;  Augus- 
tus  and  Augusta,  twins.     Augustus   is   dead.     Au- 
gusta married  Alonzo  Morgan.    Gideon  S.  Lewis  died^ 
October  6th,  1865. 

Roswell   Lewis,    brother   of  Samuel   and   Gideon, 
resided  in  Gaines  about  three  years,  then  returned  to ' 
Vermont. 

NATHAN    SHELLED. 

Natlian  Shelley  was  born  in  Hartford,  Washington- 
4'ounty,  N.  Y.,   March   17th,  1798.     In   May,   1812, 
with  liis  father's  family  he  removed   to  Gaines.     His 
father  settled   on   the  Ridge  Road,  two  miles  west  of 
the  village  of  Gaines. 

War  with  Great  Britain  was  declared  soon  after  he 
arrived.       After  the    defeat    of    the    Americans    at 
(^ueenstown,    in  October,  1812,  many  of  the   inliabi-  ■ 
tants  on  the  frontier  retired  eastward,  and  Mr.  Shelley 
took  his  family  and  went  with  them,  but  returned  in' 
December  after. 

Nathan  Shelley  married  Dorcas  Tallman,  May  21st, 
1820.  She  was  born  in  W^ashington  county,  N.  Y., 
August  4tli,  179,5. 

In  1821,  he  took  up  and  settled  part  of  lot  forty- 
five,  township  fifteen,  range  two,  on  wliich  he  has  ever 
since  resided. 

His  iirst  log   liouse  had   but   one   loom,  onl}^  four 
lights  of  glass,  and  a   bedquilt  for  an   outside  door, 
whf^n    hf^   movod    into   it   to   iv^sidc  in    the  tlic  wintei/ 
of  1821-2. 


OF  OKLKANS    COUNTY.  231 

Beginning  poor,  by  a  life  of  steady  indi-istry  and 
prudence  he  became  a  wealtliy  fanner. 

THE    BULLAHD     FAMILY. 

This  soniewliat  numerous  family  in  Gaines,  are  de- 
scendants of  David  Bullard,  who  was  boni  in  Ded- 
ham,  Massachusetts,  in  1761.  He  removed  to  Ver- 
mont, where  he  resided  until  September,  1814,  when 
he  removed  to  Gaines,  N.  Y.,  bringing  with  him  as 
many  of  his  children  as  had  not  gone  there  before. 
He  first  settled  upon  lot  twenty-three,  a  little  west  of 
the  A-illage  of  Gaines,  noith  of  the  Ridge,  on  a  farm 
which  had  been  taken  up  by  his  son  William. 
After  a  year  or  two  he  removed  south  of  the  Ridge, 
upon  lot  twenty-one — a  farm  now  owned  hy  his  son 
Brigadier,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  June, 
1831. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Hadley.  His  children  were 
William,  who  married  Xellie  Lov eland.  Polly  mar- 
ried William  Woolmnn.  They  settled  in  1*811,  in 
Gaim^s,  on  the  farm  afterwards  owned  l\y  Phineas 
Rowle}^  .ludith  married  John  AVitherell.  They  set- 
tled north  of  the  Ridge,  next  east  of  Oliver  Booth. 
Olive  married  James  Baitlett.  Betsey  married  Fred- 
erick Holsenburgh.  Nancy  married  Samuel  Scovill. 
Sally  married  Arba  Chubb.  David  married  Elvira 
Murwin.  Brigadier  married  Lovina  Parker.  Ran- 
som married  Lydia  Buck. 

William,  Judith  and  Biigadier  settled  in  Gaines  in 
February,  1812.  William  Bullard  died  in  September, 
1861. 

'illK    B1M.IN(.S     FAMILY. 

Joseph  Billings,  Sr.,  the  ancestor  of  this  family, 
was  born  in  Somers,  C-onnecticut,  and  settled  in  Che- 
nango county,  N<Mv  York,  whern  he  resided  until 
his  death. 


232  pioNMMU  Hrs'i'oKV 

He  piircliased  of  Isaac  Bennett  a  large  quantity  of 
land  in  Gaines,  which  Mr.  Bennett  had  taken  by 
article  from  the  Land  Company,  which  he  afterwards 
divided  among  his  sons,  Joseph,  Timothy,  and  Lau- 
ren. Joseph  and  Timothy  settled  on  this  land  in 
1817,  and  Lauren  in  1822.  ' 

Joseph  Billings  married  Charlotte  Drake.  His  chil- 
dren, are  J,  Drake  Billings,  who  married  Melinda 
Shaw.  Myron  married  Phebe  Bement.  Clinton 
mai-ried  Esther  Murdock.  Harlow  married  Adeline 
King.  William  H.  married  Sarah  Everett.  Clarissa 
married  Elijah  11  Lattin.  Helen  married  John 
Lattin. 

Timothy  Billings  married  Betsey  Bidwell.  His 
children  were  Newton  and  Sanford,  who  died  in  early 
manhood,  and  Pomeroy,  who  died  in  childhood. 

Lauren  Billings  mai'i'ied  Eoxana  C.  Rexford.  His 
cliildren  are,  Kai'thalo  P.,  who  married  Catharine 
Murdock.  Pomeroy  O.,  who  married  Harriet  Thomp- 
son. Loverna  C.  mari'ied  Norman  A.  Beecher.  L. 
Dwiglit.  Simeon  P.  mairied  Carrie  E.  (rray.  Joseph 
F.  nuxrried  Josephine  Eldridge. 

Joseph,  Timothy,  and  Lauren  Billings,  occupied 
adjoining  farms,  which  they  cleared  and  improved. 
.Joseph  and  Lauren  were  each  Justices  of  the  Peace 
in  Gaines  for  a  number  of  years. 

Lauren  was  a  Colonel  in  the  State  Militia.  Joseph 
was  Supei'visor  of  (Raines  from  1887,  to  1841,  inclu- 
sive. 

Jospph  Billings  died  December  10,  1800.  Timothy 
Billings  died  May  lOth,  18:17. 

AlJitA     rilLJJl?. 

Arba  Chubb  was  born  in  Poultne}-,  At.,  Se})tem- 
ber  18th,  179L 

He  married  Emily  Frisbie,  October  17,  bSlI).  Feb- 
ruary 2()tl!,  181(5.  the}-  started  to  move   to  Gaines,  N. 


OF    ORLEANS    (OrNTY.  233 

Y.,  on  a  wagon,  and  arrived  tliero  after  being-  twenty 
days  on  the  road. 

He  bonglit  a  farm  lying  between  the  Kidge  and 
Gaines  Basin,  and  resided  there  until  1832,  when  he 
moved  to  Gaines  Basin  and  bought  a  warehouse  there 
and  carried  on  business  as  a  dealer  in  produce,  and 
sold  goods  until  1840,  when  he  moved  to  Gaines  vil- 
lage, and  from  thence  to  Michigan,  in  1856. 

His  first  wife  died  in  1820.  For  a  second  wife  he 
married  Sally,  daughter  of  David  BuUard,  of 
Gaines. 

In  1821,  Mr.  Chubb  was  appointed  by  the  Council 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  after  that  elected  Jus- 
tice by  the  people  of  Gaines,  and  held  the  office 
thirty-three  years,  a  vacation  of  one  year  only  occur- 
ring during  that  time. 

After  moving  to  Michigan  he  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  from  time  to  time,  until  in  the  whole  he 
served  in  that  office  47  3'ears.  No  man  has  held  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Orleans  count}"  as 
long  as  Esquire  Chubb.  He  also  held  eveiy  other 
town  office  but  constable,  and  evevy  office  in  the 
militia,  from  Corporal  to  Majoi',  inclusive.  He  was 
for  some  time  ])ostmasier  in  Gaines,  and  Member  of 
Assembl}'  from  Orleans   county,  for  the  j^ear  1848. 

Esquire  Chubl)  describes  a  lawsuit  tried  bcvfore 
him  soon  after  lie  was  elected  Justice,  wiiich  occa- 
sioned him  great  trouble  at  the  timt\  He  gave  the 
following  account  of  it : 

"Orange  Butler  was  on  one  side,  and  a  young 
lawyer  named  Capen,  from  Albion,  on  the  other.  I 
think  they  planned  to  give  me  a  sweat.  The  plaintitf 
put  in  his  declai-ation.  Tlie  defendant  demurred. 
Plaintiff  put  in  a  rejoinder.  The  defendant  a  surre- 
joinder. Tlie  })]aintitt'  a  ]el)utter.  'IMic  defendant  a 
surrebutter. 

Al)oiit  all  tliis  special  pleading  I  knew  nothing.     I 


234  PIONKKK  HISTORY 

supposed,  liowever,  they  would  ask  me  to  make  a 
special  decision  ;  but  what  the  decision  should  be,  I 
knew  no  more  than  the  biggest  fool  alive.  There  I 
sat,  the  sweat  rolling  down  my  face,  inwardly  cursing 
the  day  I  was  appointed  Justice,  and  my  folly  in 
accepting  an  office  I  knew  nothing  about. 

I  think  the  lawyers  saw  my  trouble,  had  pity  on 
me  and  helped  me  out  as  well  as  they  could,  and  went 
on  and  tried  the  case." 

Esquire  Chubb  resides  at  Ionia,  Michigan,  and  is 
now  (1871)  serving  in  his  old  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace, 

I  HE    ANDKRSOX    FAMIl-Y, 

The  ancestors  of  this  family  originally  emigrated 
from  Scotland  to  Ireland,  and  thence  to  Londonderry, 
New  Hampshire,  at  an  early  day. 

John  Anderson,  the  ancestor  of  most  of  the  families 
of  his  name  in  Gaines,  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Aug. 
:3L  1757.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  fought 
at  Bunker  Hill,  and  was  at  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga 
under  Ethan  Allen.  He  married  Jane  Archibald  in 
Londonderry,  Feb.  7,  1782,  and  settled  in  Ira,  Rut- 
land county  Vermont,  in  the  same  year.  He  repre- 
sented this  town  in  the  State  Legislature  eight  or  ten 
years  in  succession.  His  children  were  :  Ann,  Jane, 
John,  Robert,  Matthew,  Betsey,  Thomas  A.,  Marga- 
ret, Nancy,  Eli  B.  and  Samuel  F.,  all  of  whom  were 
early  settlers  in  Gaines,  exc(»pt  Betse}^,  who  died  in 
Malone,  N.  Y.  January  11,  1813. 

John  Anderson,  senior,  moved  with  his  famil}^  to 
Gaines  in  1821,  and  located  on  lot  twenty-nine,  town- 
ship fifteen,  range  two,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ridge 
road,  where  he  died  October  22,  1827.  He  was  a  man 
of  very  great  physical  strength,  of  good  intellect, 
•'nei'getic  and  persistent  in  his  character.  One  of  his 
lules   of  action   was  :     Do   what  duty  requires   and 


OF   OKLKANS    COUNTY.  285 

Conscience  approves  as  right,  without  fear.  Indeed 
lie  never  showed  fear  of  anything.  Many  instances 
are  recollected  of  his  cool  and  determined  courage  in 
cases  of  danger.  In  several  conflicts  he  had  with 
bears,  lie  performed  exploits  as  hazardous  and  full  of 
daring,  as  Gen.  Putnam' s  battle  with  the  wolf. 

One  evening  wiiile  he  lived  in  Ira,  dogs  treed  a  bear 
not  far  from  his  residence.  A  number  of  men  were 
present,  but  they  had  no  gun.  Mr,  Anderson  told 
them  to  build  a  Are  around  the  tree  and  keep  the  bear 
up  it  until  morning,  and  then  he  would  go  up  and 
drive  him  down.  The  fire  was  made.  Next  morning 
Anderson  armed  with  a  club,  climbed  the  tree  to  the 
bear  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  and ciept out  on  the 
limb  on  which  he  had  retreated. 

Disregarding  the  growls  and  bristling  of  the  feroci- 
ous cieature,  Mr.  Anderson  went  within  reach  and 
aimed  a  blow  at  its  head  with  his  club  which  the  bear 
wai-ded  off'  and  knocked  the  club  to  the  ground. 
Nothing  daunted.  Mi-.  Andeison  descended,  got  two 
clubs,  and  again  went  up  the  tree  to  the  bear.  Taking 
a  club  in  each  hand,  he  made  motions  to  strike  with 
liis  left  hand,  and  when  the  bears  attention  was  at- 
tracted to  these,  he  struck  him  a  terrible  blow  on  the 
head  with  the  other  club,  which  knocked  the  body  of 
the  beast  off  the  limb,  leaving  him  hanging  by  his 
fore  paws.  A  blow  or  two  on  his  claws  loosened 
their  hold,  and  the  bear  was  killed  by  the  men  be- 
low when  he  struck  the  ground. 

Another  time  while  he  lived  in  A'ermont.  being  m 
the  woods,  he  saw  a  bear  coming  towards  him.  Con- 
cealing himself  in  bushes  on  a  steep  place,  he  lay  in 
ambush,  and  the  bear  ])assed  him  so  near  that  with 
a  spring  he  rushed  u]ion  him,  and  armed  only  with  a 
stone,  pounded  his  h«'ad  until  he  killed  him. 

Ann  Anderson  married  Daniel  Gates  of  Rutland, 
Vermont,    niovnd    to    Gaiuf^s   in    1811,    and    settled 


236  rroxEp:it  iiistohy 

on  lot  twenty-nine,  townyliip  tit'teen,  I'ange  two.  After 
a  few  years  he  sold  this  farm  and  i'emo\'ed  to  a  faiin 
in  Carlton,  where  he  died  January  81,  1858.  Mrs. 
Ann  Gates  died  January  1,  1866.  Two  of  her  sons, 
John  and  N.  F.  Gates,  now  reside  in  Cai'lton,  and 
another  Matthew  A.  Gates,  resides  in  Yates. 

Jane  ^Inderson  married  Phineas  Rowley,  of  Rut- 
land, Vermont,  moved  to  Gainers  in  1817,  and  settled 
on  lot  thirty,  township  fifteen,  range  one.  Tliey  both 
died  several  years  since.  Two  of  their  sons,  Jolm 
and  Andrew  J.  Rowle}',  are  yet  living  in  Gaines. 

Margaret  Anderson  married  John  Farnham  Jan.  22, 
1818.  They  removed  to  Gaines,  Oct.,  1824,  and  settled 
on  lot  fortes  township  iifteen,  range  two.  Jolm  Farn- 
ham was  born  in  Poultne^y,  Xt.,  Februar}'  26,  1795, 
and  died  November  3,  1841.  Margaret  Farnham  died 
in  May,  1868. 

Nancy  Anderson  married  fSolomon  Kingsley  in  A'er- 
mont  and  moved  to  Orleans  county  about  1819.  They 
removed  to  Michigan  in  1885  and  died  there. 

John  Anderson,  Jr.,  was  l)orn  in  Ira,  N'ermont, 
Sept.  12,  1785.  He  settled  in  Gaines  on  lot  twenty- 
two,  township  Iifteen,  range  two,  in  b81(>. 

At  the  hrst  town  ineeting  held  in  llidgeway,  April 
G,  1813,  he  was  elected  Overseer  of  the  Poor.  He 
was  a  man  of  positive  chaiacter,  a  great  lover  of  truth, 
withdrawing  his  confidence  fi-om  the  nuin  who  failed 
to  keep  liis  })romis('S. 

A  neighbor  owed  him  twelve  shillings,  whicli  he 
promised  to  pay  in  a  few  days.  Mi'.  Anderson  re- 
plied he  hoi)ed  h(^  would,  that  it  was  woi'th  a  shilling 
to  dun  a  man  ain'  time.  In  a  few  days  the  neighbor 
met  him,  spoke  of  liis  del)t  and  renewtnl  his  ])r()mise 
to  pay. 

As  they  met  0(M*asionally  afterwaids,  the  debtor 
would  dun  himself,  but  i)aid  nothing,  till  one  da}' 
iuiving  rep('at<'d  his   acknowledgenu'ut   and  promise. 


OF    OKLKANS   COUNTY.  237 

Mr.  Anderson  took  out  a  sliilling  and  lianded  him, 
saying,  "  Hero  is  a  sliilHng  for  you,  we  are  now  even. 
I  have  given  you  credit  on  account  one  sliilling  each 
time  you  have  dunned  yourself  for  me  and  broken 
your  promise.  Your  credits  balance  your  debt  and 
one  shilling  over,  Avhicli  I  have  paid  you.  It  is  settled, 
don't  speak  to  me  about  it  again.". 

Eli  B.  Anderson  was  married  in  Poultne}',  A'ermont, 
removed  to  Gaines  with  his  father,  and  resided  with 
him  until  his  death,  and  occupied  the  same  place  six 
or  eight  yeai's  after  his  deatli,  when  lie  removed  to 
Michigan. 

Samuel  F.  Anderson  moved  to  Gaines  with  his  fath- 
er, being  then  about  cigliteen  years  old.  In  1836  he 
married  Miss  Maliala  Phipps  of  .\.lbion,  and  removed 
to  Cassopolis,  Micliigan  where  he  still  resides.  He 
has  represented  his  county  several  years  in  the  State 
Legislature  and  been  Judge  of  County  Courts. 

Matthew  Anderson  moved  to  Gaines  in  1816  and 
took  an  article  of  part  of  lot  twenty-seven,  township 
fifteen,  range  two,  since  known  as  the  ""  Hunter  Farm'" 
a  little  north  of  Eagle  Harbor,  now  owned  by  C.  A. 
Danolds  and  S.  ^V.  Knef^land.  He  cleared  some  land 
and  biult  a  log  house  on  his  farm.  He  died  Septem- 
ber 80,  1816.  In  1814  or  1815,  h(^  represented  the 
town  of  Ira  in  the  Vermont  Legislature.  He  was 
Captain  of  a  company  of  militia,  which  under  his 
command  volunteered  and  went  to  meet  the  British 
at  Plattsburgh  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Hon.  Robert  Anderson  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Ira,  Vermont,  April  21,  1787. 

In  June,  1807,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  in  the 
militia.  In  October  1812  he  was  appointed  Justice 
of  the  Pejice  in  Rutland.  He  went  with  a  company 
of  volunteers  to  fight  the  British  at  Plattsburgh  in 
the  war  of  1812. 

In  November  1812,  he  came  to  Gaines  and  bought 


238  PIONKKK    HISTOUV 

an  article  for  150  acres,  part  of  lot  22,  towiisliip  fifteen, 
range  two,  to  which  he  moved  his  family  in  1816,  and 
where  he  lias  ever  since  resided.  Two  younger  brotli- 
ers,  Matthew  and  Dr.  Thomas  A.  Anderson  and  their 
families  came  on  at  the  same  time  from  Vermont. 
The  Dr.  drove  a  two  horse  himher  wagon,  which 
earried  the  women  and  cliildren  of  the  party,  the 
other  two  men  drove  each  a  team  of  two  yoke  of  oxen 
drawing  a  wagon  laden  with  their  goods,  with  a  cow 
led  behind  each  team. 

They  arrived  in  Gaines  March  2.0th,  having  been 
twenty- live  days  on  the  road. 

On  arriving  in  Gaines,  Robert  Anderson  moved 
into  the  log  house  the  logs  for  which  were  cut  by 
Mrs.  Noah  Burgess  in  1809.  It  was  roofed  with  elm 
bark  and  had  a  Hoor  of  split  basswood  in  most  ap- 
proved pioneer  style.  The  next  year  he  built  a  small 
framed  house  and  lived  in  that. 

In  the  summer  of  1821,  David  AVhipple  and  wife, 
parents  of  Mrs.  Robeit  .Vnderson,  came  to  Gaines 
from  Vermont  to  visit  their  children.  The}'  rode  in  a 
one  horse  wagon  with  bolsters  and  box  lumber  style, 
eovered  with  cloth  over  hoops.  The  seat  was  a  chair 
wide  as  the  box,  splint  bottomed,  the  posts  standing 
on  the  steel  springs  of  a  wolf  trap.  This  was  prob- 
ably the  first  wheel  carriage  rigged  with  steel  springs 
that  run  in  Orleans  county,  and  was  much  admired 
for  its  novelty  ond  convenience. 

Mr.  Anderson  and  his  wife  started  with  her  parents 
on  their  return  to  Vermont,  to  visit  triends  on  the  way. 
They  went  as  far  as  Brighton,  where  she  was  taken 
sick  and  died.  The  death  of  his  wife  and  the  sick- 
ness prevailing  in  the  country,  with  which  he  was 
attacked,  so  disheartened  him  he  offered  his  farm  for 
sale,  and  would  have  sold  at  almost  any  price,  but 
no  purchaser  appearing  and  his  health  having  im- 
proved, he  concluded  to  stay.     In    August   1822,    he 


Of'    OK  LEANS   COUNTY.  239 

married  liis   second  Avife,    Miss   Roxaua   Lamb,    of 
Bridgewater,  N'ermont,  who  died  March  27,  1837. 

In  1840,  he  rented  Ins  farm  to  his  eldest  son  and 
only  surviving  child,  Nahum  Anderson,  to  whom  in  a 
few  years  after  he  sold  it,  reserving  the  riglit  to  li\e 
in  his  family  during  life. 

In  1817,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  of  a  militia 
company  in  Gaines,  and  resigned  at  the  end  of  a  year. 
The  same  year  he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  which  office  he  held  until  the  winter  of  1822. 
In  that  winter,  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Court 
of  Conmion  Pleas  of  Genesee  county,  an  office  he 
held  over  two  }'ears  and  resigned.  In  the  spring  of 
1818,  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Gaines, 
an  office  to  which  he  was  annually  elected  as  long  as 
the  town  of  Gaines  belonged  to  Genesee  county. 
After  Orleans  county  was  organized,  he  was  elected 
the  lirst  Supervisor  from  that  town,  to  serve  in  the 
lirst  Board  sitting  in  the  new  county,  in  1826,  b}' 
whom  he  was  appointed  Chairman,  in  consequence 
of  his  experience  as  a  Supervisor. 

In  the  session  of  1822,  he  served  as  a  member  oi* 
the  State  Legislature,  being  one  of  three  representa- 
tives sent  from  the  county  of  Genesee. 

Judge  Anderson  was  never  ambitious  to  hold  public 
offices,  generally  taking  office  only  when  it  was  of- 
fered him  without  his  asking,  and  resigning  the  first 
proper  opportunity.  He  was  regarded  as  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  honest  and  faithful,  and  shared 
largely  in  tlie  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

For  some  3'ears  past  he  has  lived  quietly,  retired 
from  the  cares  of  business,  possessing  a  competence 
of  property  acquired  by  his  own  exertions,  happy  in 
the  societ}'  of  his  many  friends,  enjoying  a  pleasant 
home. 

Br.  Thomas  A.  Anderson,  son  of  John  Andeison, 
senior,  was  born    in   Ira.  Yt.,  Mav   14th,  1792.     He 


240  1>I0NEKR   HISTORY 

marrif'd  Sarali  Wliipple  of  Mai  one,  X.,  Y.,  and  moved 
to  Gaines,  as  above  stated,  in  1816,  and  located  at 
Fair  Haven,  or  Proctor's  Corners,  in  the  town  of 
Gaines,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for  some 
time  in  company  with  Dr.  Trnman  S.  Shaw,  who  af- 
terwards practiced  in  Knowlesville,  and  Yates,  and 
died  a  few  3^ears  since  in  Medina,  Orleans  connty, 
N.  Y. 

Dr.  Anderson  had  practiced  medicine  several  j^ears 
in  Rutland,  Vermont,  before  coming  to  Gaines.  He 
was  esteemed  a  skillful  physician,  and  had  as  much 
business  as  he  could  do.  He  was  constitutionally 
feeble,  never  had  good  health,  and  died  September 
2d,  1829,  leaving  one  child  only,  a  daughter,  now 
wife  of  S.  Dewey  Walbridge,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
His  wife  died  April  22d,  1829. 

MOSES    BACON. 

Moses  Bacon  was  boi-n  April  5,  1787,  in  Burlington, 
Hartford  county,  Conn.     He  was  a  farmer. 

About  the  year  1809,  he  came  to  Gaines  and  took 
an  article  from  the  Holland  Land  Company  of  two 
linndred  acres  of  land  on  the  south  part  of  lot  tiiirty- 
seven,  township  fifteen,  range  one.  He  worked  for 
the  Land  Company  opening  the  Oak  Orchard  road 
the  summer  of  that  year,  to  apply  towards  paying 
for  his  land,  and  returned  to  Connecticut  in  the  fall. 
The  next  spring  he  came  back  and  commenced  work 
upon  his  land  as  a  permanent  settler. 

In  December,  1818,  he  went  in  Captain  McCarty's 
company  to  the  defence  of  the  frontier,  and  in  his 
chargt^  upon  the  British  and  Indians  at  Molj'neaux 
tavein,  in  (Jambiia,  on  that  occasion  Mr.  Bacon  was 
present  and  did  good  execution. 

In  January,  1814,  hc^  married  Miss  Sarah  Downer. 
In  Septembei-  of  that  year  he  was  called  out  with  the 


OF    OULEAXS    COUNTY.  241 

lueu  Oil  tiiiHi  IVoutier  gem  Tall}',  to  aid  in  repelling  the. 
British  and  Indians  in  tlie  war  witli  Great  Britain. 
He  was  in  tlie  hatth^  of  Fort  Erie,  in  which  he  was 
shot  throngh  the  neck  and  taken  prisoner  by  the 
British,  who  carried  liini  to  Halifax, where  he  suffered 
greatly  nnder  the  cruel  trc^atnient  of  the  officers  who 
had  the  American  prisoners  under  their  charge.  The 
next  year  lie  was  discharged,  the  war  having  closed, 
and  returned  liome  broken  in  constitution  from  the 
hardships  of  his  wound  and  imprisonment,  and  with 
a  cough  contracted  in  Halifax  IVom  which  he  never 
recovered,  and  for  which  he  di'<'w  a  i)ension  from  the 
United  States  ever  aftei-waixls. 

Mr,  Bacon  sold  tlu;  east  part  of  his  farm  to  his 
brother  Hosea,  and  th(^  iiorth  part  to  his  brother 
Elias,  reserving  one  hundred  acres  for  himself.  Upon 
this  place  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
June  28th,  1848. 

SA.MIKL    mi>i:L.MAX. 

lSamiu4  Bidelman  v/as  bo]n  in  Manlieim,  Herkimer 
county,  ]N'.  Y.,  June  29tli,  1800.  His  grandparents 
both  came  to  Americji  ivom  (T(^rniany,  before  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  settled  on  the  ]Mohav/k  river. 
In  that  war  his  grandfather's  buildings  were  burned 
by  th(^  Indians,  and  his  family  narrowly  escaped 
massacre  by  Hying  to  the  block  house  fort  for  pro- 
h^ction. 

His  father,  Heiiry  Bidelman,  came  to  Shelb}'  in 
1816,  and  bought  an  article  i'ov  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  of  John  Timmerman.  In  January,  1817,  he 
came  to  Shelby  with  a,  part  of  his  children,  leaving 
his  wife  and  otlier  children  in  Herkimer  county  until 
he  could  prepan?  a  placc^  for  tliem.  He  was  eleven 
days  on  the  journey. 

In   July,    1817,    John    (larlock,    })rother-in-law  of 

IG 


242  PIONEER  HISTORY 

Henry  Bidelman,  brouglit  on  Mrs.  Bidelman  and  the 
remainder  of  lier  children,  and  with  their  other  load- 
ing lie  brought  three  bags  of  flour.  This  was  the 
next  year  after  the  cold  season,  and  the  neighborhood 
was  destitute  of  flour  ;  some  of  the  inhabitants  had 
not  even  seen  wheat  bread  for  weeks,  having  lived  in 
that  time,  as  far  as  bread  was  concerned,  on  bran 
bread  and  some  sea  biscuit — "hard  tack,"  which 
they  procured  from  the  Arsenal  at  Batavia,  which 
had  been  stored  there  to  feed  the  soldiers  in  the  war 
of  1812. 

It  was  a  custom  then  when  a  new  family  arrived, 
for  all  the  settlers  for  miles  around  to  come  together 
and  give  them  a  greeting.  Such  a  surprise  i:>arty 
waited  on  the  Bidelmans,  and  after  they  had  broken 
up  and  gone  home,  Mr.  Bidelman  found  he  had 
only  a  part  of  one  bag  of  his  flour  left  out  of  the 
three  brought  on  by  Gaiiock,  as  each  family  of  the 
visitors  must  of  course  take  home  a  little.  Part  of 
one  bag  of  flour  only  for  a  family  of  twelve  hungry 
persons  to  live  on  under  the  circumstances,  looked  as 
if  the  end  was  near. 

These  sea  biscuit  furnished  material  for  much  talk, 
as  well  as  some  food  for  the  people.  Mr.  Joseph 
Snell,  who  was  something  of  a  wag,  reported  that  a 
Mr.  Simons,  who  resided  a  little  south  from  Mr.  Bid- 
elman, got  some  of  the  biscuit  and  ate  too  freely  of 
them  ;  that  they  had  swelled  in  his  stomach  and  had 
burst  him.  He  said  his  attendants  tied  hankerchiefs 
and  straps  around  him,  and  did  the  best  they  could 
to  make  him  contain  himself,  but  without  success  ; 
he  burst  and  died,  and  was  to  be  buried  at  a  time 
specified.  Several  persons  went  to  attend  the  funeral 
before  they  understood  the  hoax. 

The  first  year  after  he  came  to  Shelby,  Mr.  H.  Bid- 
elman took  some  land  of  D.  Timmerman  which  lay 
about  a  mile  from  his  house,  to  j)lant  with  corn   on 


OF   ORLEAIN'S   COUNTY.  243 

sliares.  In  lioeing  time,  in  the  long  days  in  June,  he 
would  get  his  boys  together,  Samuel  "being  then  about 
twelve  j^ears  old,  get  them  a  breakfast  of  bran 
bread  and  milk  and  say  to  them,  "  now  hoys  you  can 
go  and  hoe  corn,  and  when  j'ou  get  so  tired  and  hun- 
gry 3'ou  can  t  stand  it  any  longer,  come  home  and  we 
will  try  and  get  you  something  to  eat  again.  This 
was  the  way  they  fared  before  uncle  Garlock  came 
with  Hour. 

The  cold  season  of  1816  cut  oif  the  crops,  and  there 
was  but  little  to  be  had  to  eat.  Flour  was  worth 
fifteen  dollars  a  barrel  in  Rochester,  wheat  three  dol- 
lars a  bushel  here,  and  no  money  to  buy  it  with. 
But  crops  were  good  in  1817,  and  as  soon  as  the 
farmers  began  to  raise  wheat,  and  about  1820  and 
1821,  as  there  was  no  way  to  get  wheat  to  market,  the 
price  fell  to  twenty -five  cents  a  bushel.  Articles  of 
wearing  apparel  were  enormously  dear.  Cotton  cloth 
was  worth  fifty  cents  a  yard. 

In  1818,  Mr.  II.  Bidelman  chopped  and  cleared  off 
six  acres  of  land  for  A.  A.  EUicott,  for  which  he  ob- 
tained flour  for  his  famil}^  for  that  season.  He  cleared 
five  acres  for  Elijah  Bent,  a  little  South  of  Medina 
village,  for  which  he  received  in  payment  one-third  of 
the  pork  of  a  hog  that  weighed  three  hundred  pounds 
in  all;  that  is,  about  one  hundred  pounds  of  pork  cost 
twenty  dollars,  paid  for  in  such  hard  work.  So  the}^ 
managed  to  live  along  until  they  could  raise  something 
of  their  own  to  live  on. 

About  this  time  3'oung  Samuel,  being  then  twelve 
or  thirteen  years  old,  and  his  brother  AVilliam  two 
years  older,  got  disgusted  with  Western  New  York 
and  agreed  to  run  away  T)ack  to  the  Mohawk  country, 
fearing  they  would  star\  e  to  death  if  they  remained 
here.     They  did  not  go  however. 

In  the  year  1820,  May  20th,  barefoot,  with  an  old 
straw  hat,   a  pair  of  tow  cloth  pantaloons  and  a 


244  noNEKi:  iiistouy 

set'ond  liand  coat  (311,  Samuel  Bidelman  started  on  foot 
and  alone  for  Eidgeway  Corners,  to  learn  tlie  trade  of 
tanning  and  currying  leather,  and  slioemaking,  of 
Isaac  A.  Bullard,  wlio  carrii^d  on  that  business 
there. 

Before  that  time  he  had  lived  in  JJutch  settlements, 
and  could  hut  imperfectly  speak,  or  understand  the 
English  language. 

Mr.  Bullard' s  tanning  then  amounted  to  about  fifty 
hides  a  year,  but  gradually  increased  to  about  one 
hundred  hides  a  year  while  Samuel  liv(^d  with  him. 
When  he  had  been  about  three  and  a  half  years  with 
Mr.  Bullard,  they  had  some  difficulty  and  Samuel  left 
him  and  went  to  his  father.  The  difficulty  was  set- 
tled and  Samuel  was  bound  as  apprentice  to  stay 
with  Mr.  Bullard  until  he  was  of  age,  and  he  went 
back  and  remained. 

Bullard  was  addicted  to  strong  drink,  which  made 
him  rather  a  hard  master  to  his  apprentice.  He  died 
April  0th,  1827. 

After  Mr.  Bullard' s  death  his  vdfe  carried  on  the 
business  he  had  left,  and  Mr.  Bidelman  worked  for  her 
l)y  th(^  month  six  months,  and  then  bought  out  tlie 
tan}'a]"d  and  dwelling  house  and  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness on  his  ovv'u  account. 

May  17th,  1829,  he  married  Eliza  Prussia.  She  was 
born  in  La ncastei' county,  Pennsylvania,  of  German 
parentage. 

At  E.idgewa}'-  Mr.  Bidelman  taimed  about  seventy- 
jiv(^  hides  a  year.  He  kept  two  journeymen,  made 
jeath"r  and  carried  on  slioemaking.  Stoga  boots 
were  v/ortli  four  dollars  a  pair,  coarse  shoes  two  dol- 
lars. Boots  were  not  so  generally  worn  as  now. 
Tanner"' s  bark,  hemlock,  was  wortli  one  dollar  and 
iifty  cents  a  cord. 

In  the  spring  of  1885,  ]\Ir.  Bidelman  sold  his  place 
in  Bidgeway,  retaining  possession  until  the  next  Oc- 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  24o 

ber,  intending  to  move  to  Miciiigan.  He  was  now 
worth  about  fifteen  Imndred  dollars  and  was  t^renty- 
nine  years  old. 

He  finally  bought  a  tanyard  at  Gaines  village  of 
James  Mather,  and  moved  there  Oct.  second,  eighteen 
hunctred  and  thirtj'-five.  G  aines  was  then  quite  a  place 
of  business.  It  had  in  active  operation  one  acadeni}', 
five  dry  goods  stores,  three  groceries,  one  steam  grist 
mill  and  furnace,  three  taverns,  two  churches,  twf) 
tannerys,  one  cabinet  shop,  one  large  wagon  factory, 
three  law  offices,  three  blacksmith  shops,  one  milline- 
ry shoj"),  one  ashery,  besides  harness,  shoe,  and  tailoj- 
shops,  &c. 

At  Gaines  Mr.  Bidelman  employed  four  or  five 
men  in  his  tannery,  and  five  or  six  men  in  liis  shoe- 
shop  generally. 

In  1838,  the  Patriot  War,  as  it  was  called,  in  Cana- 
da, closed.  This  part  of  the  countrj^  had  been  in  a 
high  state  of  excitment  for  two  years,  the  people  de- 
siring to  furnish  aid  to  the  Canadian  rebels.  Hunter  s 
lodges,  as  they  were  called,  were  formed  along  the 
frontier  for  this  purpose.  Such  a  lodge  used  to  meet 
in  the  upper  room  in  Mr.  Bidelman' s  Tannery,  which 
was  formerl}'  occujiied  by  tlie  Free  Mason's.  Mr. 
Bidelman  took  great  interest  in  this  movement  and 
gave  an  old  cast  iron  bark  mill  to  be  cast  into  can- 
non balls.  He  gave  the  last  gun  he  ever  owned  and 
a  pair  of  boots,  to  fit  out  a  soldi(4-  wlio  went  to  Can- 
ada to  join  the  insurgents. 

A  cannon,  wljich  had  belonged  to  an  artillery  com- 
pany in  Yates,  in  ^  which  Mr.  Bidelman  had  held  a 
commission  as  Lieutenant,  was  sent  to  the  Patriots. 
General  "Winfield  S(,'ott  passed  through  on  tlie  Ilidgc 
Road  vrith  some  United  States  troops  to  maintain 
peace  on  our  bordei's,  and  in  a  sliort  time  t-rder  was 
ao-ain  restored. 


246  PIONEEK    IIISTOKY 

The  Ridge  Road  was  tlien  a  great  traveled  thor- 
oughfare ;  six  to  eight  stage  coaches  passed  through 
Gaines  each  way  daily. 

In  eighteen  hundred  and  forty- one  Mr.  Robert  Ran- 
ney  went  in  company  with  i\Ir.  Bidelman  in  business 
as  tanners,  in  Gaines,  for  a  term  of  live  years.  They 
put  in  a  large  stock  and  worked  it,  but  the  business 
was  not  profitable  for  the  partners.  They  had 
difficulty  in  settling  their  partnership  matters, 
and  on  the  whole,  these  five  years  were  the  most  un- 
pleasant and  un2:)rosperous  in  business  to  Mr.  Bidel- 
man of  any  like  time  in  his  life.  Since  closing  with 
Mr.  Ranney,  he  has  been  connected  with  his  sons  in 
business.  He  was  Supervisor  of  Gaines  in  the  years 
1842,  1845,  1846,  1853,  1854,  and  1857. 

DK.  .JESSE   BEECn  A?.^D   DK.  .JOHN   IIENIiY   BEECH. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  a  memoir  by 
Dr.  John  H.  Beech,  of  Coldwater,  Michigan,  of  him- 
self and  his  father,  Dr.  Jesse  Beech,  who  was  the  pi- 
oneer physician  of  the  town  of  Gaines  : 

"Dr.  Jesse  Beech  was  born  March  20tli,  1787,  at 
Ames,  Montgomery  county,  l^ew  York.  He  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Lathrop,  of  Charleston,  and  with 
Dr.  Slieldon,  of  Florida,  N.  Y.  In  those  days  medi- 
cal colleges  were  not  accessible  to  students  of  ordi- 
nary means.  There  was  a  public  prejudice  against 
dissections,  and  the  students  of  the  two  doctors  named 
occupied  a  room  in  a  steeple  on  a  church  in  Charles- 
ton, where  they  dissected  bodies.  One  of  the  class 
would  stay  in  the  steeple  all  day  Sundays  with  their 
cadamrs  to  keep  the  hatch  fastened  down  to  exclude 
intruding  boys. 

Dr.  Jesse  Beech  commenced  practice  at  Esi:)erance, 
N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1813,  and  in  February  of  that 
year  married  Susannah,  a  dauglitei-  of  John  Brown, 
of  that  place. 


OF   OKLEANS    COUNTY.  247 

In  the  fall  of  1815  lie  came  to  Gaines,  wlu^re  lie  met 
James  Mather,  with  whom  he  was  acquainted,  and 
was  persuaded  to  stop  there,  accepting  a  theory  then 
believed  in  by  settlers  in  that  region,  which  was  this  : 
'  Batavia  must  be  the  Gotliam  of  the  Holland  Purchase 
Oak  Orchard  Harbor  must  be  the  commercial  port. 
The  great  commercial  highway  of  the  country  would 
be  from  the  head  of  navigation  on  Oak  Orchard  Creek 
to  Batavia.  The  country  north  of  the  Ridge  was  too 
ilat  and  poor  to  be  of  any  account,  and  tlie  town 
second  to  Batavia  must  be  on  the  Ridge  where  the 
road  from  Batavia  to  the  lake  crossed  it.  A  kind  of 
half  shire  town  for  Genesee  county  was  then  at  Oak 
Orchard  Creek  on  the  Ridge.  Genesee  county  would 
be  divided  at  Tonawanda  Swamp,  and  the  new  coun- 
ty seat  would  be  Gaines.'  Philetus  Bumpus  Avas  then 
hunting  bears  where  Albion  now  is,  and  the  future 
greatness  of  Gaines  was  not  dimmed  by  prospects  of 
Clinton^  s  Erie  Canal. 

Such  was  the  theoiy.  The  canal  made  dough  of 
the  whole  of  that  cake,  and  caused  the  whole  country 
about  here  to  change  front. 

James  Mather,  and  Oliver  Booth,  the  tavern  keep- 
er, were  active  men  in  Gaines,  Avlien  my  father  came 
in,  both  being  very  attentive  to  new  comers,  and  Esq. 
Arba  Chubb  came  in  soon  after.  He  was  the  best 
wit  and  story  teller  of  the  times,  full  of  talk  and  re- 
partee, a  most  social  and  agreeable  man. 

My  father  bought  some  land  near  the  '  Corners,' 
and  brought  my  mother  there  the  next  spring.  She 
found  the  'house'  onl}^  half  floored  and  not  all 
'  chinked.'  The  fii'e  waft  built  against  the  logs  on  the 
side  which  had  no  floor,  over  which  the  roof  was 
open  for  the  escape  of  smoke. 

She  was  told  that  the  rule  of  the  settlement  was 
that  new  comers  must  burn  out  three  logs  in  the 
house  walls  before  they  could  \)e  allowed  to  build  a 


:248  i»ioxEKi:  insToiiY 

stone  Lack  for  a  ciiimiiej  ;  and  tliey  nmst  liave  liad 
at  least  three  'sliakes'  of  a^-U(^  before  tliey  could  be 
admitted  to  citizenship. 

The  records  are  silent  as  to  when  slie  hurnedoutlier 
three  logs  ;  but  it  is  said  that  she  soon  attained  to  the 
rank  of  full  citizenship,  having  her  first  sliake  of 
ague  on  the  fourth  day  ai'tt>r  arriving  in  town.  My 
father  must  have  found  tlie  people  much  in  need  of  a 
doctor,  for  I  find  on  page  seventy-one  of  his  day  book, 
previous  pages  being  lost,  a  large  amount  of  busi- 
ness charged  for  so  small  a  population.  The  i)rices 
charged  would  now  be  deemed  quite  moderate,  to 
wit.:  Leonard Frisbie  is  charged  'To  visit  and  setting- 
leg  for  self  $2.50."  Subsequent  visits  and  dressings 
from  thirty- seven  and  a  half  to  seventy-five  cents 
each,  and  so  in  other  cases. 

In  1817,  1818,  and  1819,  it  took  him  three  or  four 
days  to  make  a  circular  visit  to  his  imtients.  They 
resided  in  Murray,  east  of  Sandy  Creek,  at  FarwelF  s 
Mills,  in  Clarendon,  in  differ(>nt  parts  of  Ridgeway, 
Barre,  c\:c. 

On  these  circuits  the  Idnd  peoplt?  treated  him  to 
their  b(^st,  whicli  was  often  corn  cake  and  wliisk}^  or 
Evans'  root  coffee,  with  sorrel  pie  for  dessert,  for  the 
doctor  and  basswood  browse  for  his  horse. 

I  find  a  bill  rendered  in  pounds,  sliillings  and  pence 
to  my  fatlicr  hy  Geoige  Kuck,  for  general  mei'chan- 
dise  had  at  his  store  in  West  Carlton,  in  1818.  Ira 
Webb  was  at  the  same  time  in  trade  at  Oak  Orchard 
Creek,  on  the  Ridge,  but  tlxc  2)i'iacipal  mei-cliants  wei-e 
located  at  Gaines. 

In  the  spring  of  181  (),  my  father  had  about  half 
an  acre  of  corn  'dug  in"  among  the  logs  near  his 
house.  "When  it  was  a  IV'w  inches  higli  a  frost  blight- 
ed tlie  tops  so  that  ever}' leaf  was  held  in  a  tight 
dead  envelope.  ]My  mother  cut  oil'  the  to])s  with  lier 
scissors  and  a  fail-  cro})  was  harvested. 


OF   OHLEA.\S  C'OUIS^rY.  240 

In  order  to  save  the  pig  from  tlie  beai'^s  itt^pen  was 
made  close  to  tlu^  liouse,  and  a  i)iece  of  rlnnldnt!; 
left  out  to  halloo  '  shoo  '  through. 

One  day  mother' 3  attention  was  attracted  l)y  Jin 
nnusnal  hackling  of  the  pig.  Looking  througli  the 
crevice  she  saw  a  large  rattlesnake  coiled  n})  in  tlif 
hog-trough,  with  head  erect,  buzzing  like  a  nest  of 
bees.  Fearing  to  attack  the  old  fellow,  she  ran  to 
the  neighbors  for  help  and  Avhen  she  returned  the 
snake  had  gone. 

In  1816  they  had  a  patcli  of  oats  near  tlie  house 
from  which  the  deer  had  to  be  driven  frequentl}'. 

Their  first  child,  and  only  daughter,  Elizabeth,  was 
born  June  22d,  1817.  She  married  Ezbon  CI.  Fuller, 
and  settled  at  Coldwater,  Michigan,  where  she  died  in 
1853.  Their  only  son,  your  humble  servant,  was  born 
September  24th,  1810.  I  think  I  must  have  been  one 
of  the  first  draymen  in  the  count}^  as  I  remembei- 
wdien  a  very  small  bo}'  seizing  the  reins  and  backing 
my  father's  liorse  and  cart  loaded  with  merchandise, 
part  of  which  was  a  demijolin  of  aquafortis,  down  a 
cellar  gangwa}^  Some  smoke  and  some  hurraing 
were  among  the  consequences. 

A  few  years  later  a  young  clerk  and  mj'self  sent  a 
hogshead  of  molasses  from  a  wagon  down  the  same 
gangway  at  one  '  pop.'  The  '  pop '  carried  away 
the  lieads  of  tlie  cask  and  poured  the  sweet  out  to 
the  rats. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  I  tried  clerking  in  a  dry 
goods  store  for  Fanning  ct  Orton,  in  Albion.  After 
six  months  probation  I  felt  no  furtlu^r  inspiration  oi- 
as]Diration  in  that  line  and  resigned,  I  presume  witli 
the  iK^arty  consent  of  my  employers,  though  they  liat- 
tered  me  b}^  expressing  their  regret,  which  I  tliought 
was  proof  of  their  politeness  rather  than  my  abilit}-. 
I  then  attended  Gaines  Academy  until  I  was  eighteen 
years  old,  when  I  commenced  studying  medicine  with 


250  PIOISTEEK   HISTORY 

Drs.  Niclioson  &  Paine,  in  An)ion  ;  afterwards  with 
Dr.  Pinkney,  at  Esperance,  and  gradnating  at  the 
Albany  Medical  College  in  1841. 

I  practiced  ni}^  profession  from  tlie  old  Jiomestead 
until  1850,  then  removed  to  Coldwater,  Michigan, 
where  I  have  been  engaged  in  the  same  business 
since,  except  during  the  rebellion,  in  the  greater  part 
of  which  I  served  in  the  army  as  surgeon,  first  of 
Battery  D.  First  Michigan  Artillery;  afterwards  of 
Tvfenty-Fourth  Michigan  Volunteers,  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  The  greater  ^ymt  of  the  time,  besides 
performing  my  regimental  duties,  acting  as  Surgeon- 
in-Chief  of  the  First  Brigade,  Plrst  Division,  First 
Army  Corps. 

In  January,  1842,  I  married  Mary  Jane  Perry,  of 
Clarkson,  IST.  Y.        '-        ^-        -       '- 

We  have  mentioned  the  anticipations  of  the  people 
of  securing  the  location  of  the  county  buildings  at 
Gaines.  The  brick  building  standing  on  the  hill  south 
of  the  village,  was  built  by  contributions  started  with 
the  intent  to  donate  it  to  the  county  for  a  court  house. 
It  was  originally  three  stories  high,  about  forty  by 
seventy  feet  on  the  ground.  Tliese  anticipations  of 
the  contributors  being  blasted,  they  converted  their 
building  into  an  academy. 

At  the  organization  of  Orleans  county,  the  village 
of  Gaines  contained  three  stores,  three  asheries,  three 
tanneries,  two  taverns,  one  chair  factory,  one  carriage 
factory,  one  cabinet  shop,  three  blacksmith  shops, 
one  distillery,  one  cloth-dressing  and  wool-carding 
establishment,  two  brick  yards,  one  printing  office 
where  a  nev/spaper  was  published,  one  liat  factory, 
and  one  saddle  and  harness  shop.  Works  requiring 
motive  power  weie  driven  by  horses.         '■  '■' 

The  first  chapter  of  royal  arch  nuisons  in  tlie  county 
No.  82,  was  |organized  at  Gaines.  Dr.  Jesse  Beech 
was  H.  1^  in  1826. 


OF   OIILEANS    COUJS^TT.  251 

Previous  to  1825,  Col.  Boardman's  Cavalry  was  a 
marvel  in  the  eyes  of  us  youngsters.  Dr.  Jesse  Beech 
w^as  its  surgeon. 

I  find  by  an  old  receipt  among  my  father' s  23apers, 
that  Gaines  Basin,  in  the  canal,  was  excavated  by  a 
subscription  fund,  subscribed  mainly  by  G-uernsey, 
Bushnell  &  Co.,  E.  &  E.  B.  Nichols,  and  James 
Mather. 

Dr.  Jesse  Beech  was  a  temperance  man  even  to  total 
abstinence,  enforcing  his  princii^les  by  banishing  de- 
canters and  wine  glasses  from  his  sideboard — a  pro- 
ceeding rather  unusual  in  those  times. 

He  was  a  fine  horseman  and  occasionall}^  ofiiciated 
as  marshal  on  public  occasions.  He  was  always  ex- 
ceedingly particular  in  his  dress  and  personal  apj)ear- 
ance,  and  always  wore  an  elaborate  ruffle  shirt.  His 
dress  never  was  allowed  to  interfere  with  business  re- 
quiring his  attention,  and  sometimes,  when  ofl"  pro- 
fessional duty,  he  would  go  into  his  field  where  his 
men  were  clearing  land,  and  though  he  was  small  in 
stature,  he  would  show  by  his  agility  and  energy  in 
working  with  his  men  that  he  was  a  match  for  their 
stoutest. 

A  few  of  the  last  years  of  my  father' s  life,  he  kept 
a  store  of  drugs  and  medicines  on  sale  in  connexion 
with  his  practice  as  a  phj'-sician  and  surgeon. 

In  February  or  March,  1828,  he  v/as  hurt  by  a 
vicious  horse  from  which  he  suffered  greatly  as  long- 
as  he  lived.  He  died  March  4th,  1829.  His  widow 
afterwards  married  Captain  Eliliu  Mather,  and  re- 
moved to  Coldwater,  Michigan,  where  she  died  March 
IGth,  18G9. 

.1.  11.  BEECH." 
OI.IVEIJ   ]U)OTII.  V 

Oliver  Booth  was  a  Avell-known  tavern  keeper  on 
the   Ridffe   Road   in  Gaines.      He   came  here   from 


252  PIOXEEU    IIISTOIIY 

Wayne  couiitj^  in  the  spring  of  1811,  and  settled  on 
tlie  farm  north  of  the  Ridge  and  east  of  the  Oak  Or- 
chard Road  in  the  village  of  Gaines.  He  cleared  his 
farm  and  built  a  double  log  house,  with  a  huge  chim- 
ney in  the  middle.  Here  he  kept  tavern  a  number 
of  years. 

His  house  was  always  full  of  company.  Travelers 
on  the  Ridge  Road  stoj^ped  liere  because  it  was  a 
tavern  and  there  was  no  other.  Here  he  dispensed  a 
vast  amount  of  wliisk}^, — for  everybody  was  thirst}^  in 
those  days, — and  some  victuals  to  such  strangers  as 
were  not  acquainted  with  the  proverbial  lilthiness  of 
the  kitchen. 

Aftei"  Gaines  had  become  a  village,  and  laid  claims 
to  the  count}'  seat,  and  peopL^  had  come  in  who 
wanted  more  style,  and  wliose  stomachs  could  not 
stand  such  fare  as  Booth' s  tavern  supplied,  another 
tavern  was  opened  and  Booth  sold  out  and  moved 
away.  He  finally  settled  in  Micliigan  where  he 
died. 

No  description  of  Booth  or  his  tavern  would  be 
complete  without  including  Sam.  Wooster.  Sam's 
father  lived  in  the  neighborhood,  and  he  (Sam.)  then  a 
great  lazy  boy,  strayed  uj)  to  Booth' s  tavern,  where 
b}'  hanging  about  he  occasionally  got  a  taste  of 
Booth's  whisky  in  consideration  of  l)ringing  in  wood 
for  the  fire  and  doing  a  few  other  chores,  l^or  tiiese 
services  and  the  pleasure  of  his  company.  Booth  gave 
him  v.'hat  ht^  ate  and  drank,  with  a  place  to  sleej)  on 
the  bar-room  lioor.  His  clotlies  did  not  cost  much. 
He  never  Avore  a  hat  of  au}^  sort,  seldom  had  on 
stockings  or  shoes,  x^obody  can  remember  that  he 
wore  a  shirt,  and  his  coats  and  i)ants  Aver(>  such  as 
came  to  him,  nobody  coidd  tell  how  or  from  Avhence. 
Sam.  never  washed  his  face  and  hands,  or  combed  his 
head,  and  his  general  appearance,  shirtless  and  shoe- 
less, with  his  great  black,  frowsy  luvad  1)ar(.s  his  i)ants 


OF    ORLEANS;    COT'NTY.  253 

ragged  and  torn,  and  his  coat,  if  lie  had  an}",  minus 
one  sleeve,  or  half  the  skirt,  to  one  who  did  know  him 
might  befit  a  crazy  prisoner  just  escaped  from  Bed- 
lam. Yet  Sam.  was  not  a  fool  or  crazy.  His  wit  was 
keen  and  ready,  and  his  jokes  timely  and  sharp.  He 
would  not  work,  or  do  anj^thing  which  required  much 
effort  any  way.  He  was  a  good  lisher  however,  and 
with  his  old  friend  Booth,  he  would  sit  patiently  by 
the  hour  and  angle  in  the  Oak  Orchard,  or  any  other 
stream  that  had  lish,  perfectly  content,  if  he  had  an 
occasional  nibble  at  his  hook. 

One  year  while  he  lived  in  Gaines,  some  wag  for 
the  fun  of  the  thing  nominated  him  for  overseer  of 
highway's  in  the  Gaines  village  district,  and  he  was 
elected.  He  told  the  people  the}'  had  elected  him 
thinking  he  was  too  lazy  to  attend  to  the  business, 
and  v.'ould  let  them  satisf}'  their  assessments  by  mel"e 
nominal  labor  on  the  road;  but  tlie}^  would  hnd  them- 
selves much  mistaken,  and  the}'  did.  Sam.  warned 
them  to  work  as  th<j  law  directed.  He  superintended 
everything  vigorously,  and  every  man  and  team  and 
tool  on  th(^  highway  within  liis  beat  had  to  do  its 
whole  duty  promptly  that  year  at  least. 

Although  Sam.  loved  whisky  and  drank  it  whenever 
it  was  given  to  him,  for  he  never  had  money  to  buy 
anything,  he  never  got  drunk.  He  never  quarreled 
or  stole  or  did  any  other  mischief.  Bad  as  he  looked, 
and  lazy  and  dirt}^  as  he  was,  he  was  harmless. 
When  Mr.  Booth  sold  out  and  moved  to  Michigan, 
Sam.  went  witli  him  and  lived  in  his  family  after- 
wards. 

A  few  months  after  landlord  Booth  got  his  double 
log  tavern  going,  a  man  rode  up  to  the  west  front 
door  ,eacli  half  of  the  house  had  a  front  door,  and 
asked  Mrs.  Booth  if  he  could  get  dinner  and  feed 
his  hors(^  there.  She  sent  her  daughter,  then  ten  years 
old,  to  show  the  man  where  he  could   get  feed  for  his 


254  PIONEER  HISTORY 

liorse  in  the  stable,    and  she  went  to  work  getting 
Ms  dinner. 

Having  taken  care  of  his  horse,  the  stranger  came 
and  took  a  seat  by  the  front  door  of  the  room  where 
Mrs.  Booth  was  getting  dinner  and  commenced  talk 
by  saying : 

"Well,  Mrs.  Booth,  how  do  you  like  the  Holland 
Purchase?" 

"  O,  pretty  well,'"  she  replied,  "  I  think  it  will  be 
a  good  country  when  it  is  cleared  np." 

"  What  place  did  you  come  from  Mrs.  Booth  V 
*'  We  came  from  down  in  the  Jarseys." 
"  Is  the  country  settling  about  here  very  fast  ?" 
"Yes,  quite  a  good  many  settlers  have  come  in." 
"  How  is  it  about  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard,  are 
they  settling  there  much  ?" 

,  "  No  they  are  not,  that  cussed  old  Joe  Ellicott  has 
reserved  all  the  land  there  and  wont  sell  it." 

Just  then  Mr.  James  Mather  passed  by,  and  seeing 
the  stranger  sitting  in  the  door,  whom  he  recognized 
as  Mr.  Joseph  Ellicott,  the  agent  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company,  he  turned  to  speak  to  him.  As  he  came 
up,  Ellicott  motioned  him  to  be  silent,  fearing  he  would 
pronounce  his  name  in  hearing  of  Mrs.  Booth  and  end 
the  fun.  After  a  salutation  to  Mr.  Mather,  Mr.  El- 
licott said  to  Mrs.  Booth : 

"  Has  old  Joe  Ellicott  then  really  reserved  the  land 
round  the  mouth  of  the  Creek." 

"Yes,  the  devilish  old  scamp  has  reserved  one  or 
two  thousand  acres  there  as  a  harbor  for  bears  and 
wolves  to  kill  the  sheep  and  hogs  of  the  settlers." 

Ellicott  asked  "  What  can  induce  uncle  Joe  to  re- 
serve that  land  ?" 

She  replied,  "Oh,  the  old  scamp  thinks  he  will  make 
his  Jack  out  of  it.  He  thinks  some  day  there  will  be 
a  citv  there,  and  he  will   survey  the  land  into  city 


OF    OULEAXft    COUXTY.  255 

lots  and  sell  them.  All,  lie  is  a  long-lieaded  old 
chap." 

Ellicott  walked  into  the  road  and  talked  with  Mr. 
Mather  a  few  minutes  till  being  called  to  liis  dinner 
he  said  to  Mather  :  "Don't  tell  Mrs.  Booth  who  I 
am  until  I  am  out  of  sight.*' 

After  Ellicott  was  gone,  Mr.  Mather  went  over  and 
Mrs.  Booth  asked  him  who  that  old  fellow  was  who 
got  dinner  there  ^ 

He  replied,  "it  was  Mr.  Joseph  Ellicott,  from  Ba- 
tavia." 

"Good,"  says  she,  "  didn't  I  give  it  to  him  ?  Glad 
of  it!     Glad  of  it!" 

Mr.  Booth  was  unable  to  read  or  write,  and  he  was 
accustomed  to  keep  his  tavern  accounts  in  chalk 
marks  on  the  walls.  Thus,  for  an  account  of  six 
pence,  he  made  a  mark  of  a  certain  length  ;  for  a 
shilling,  a  mark  longer ;  two  shillings,  longer  still, 
and  so  on.  He  distinguished  drinks,  dinners,  horse 
feed,  &'c.,  by  ])eculiar  hieroglyphics  of  his  own  inven- 
tion. 

Booth,  the  tavern  keeper,  must  not  be  confounded 
with  Oliver  Booth,  2d,  better  known  to  the  old  pio- 
neers as  "Esq.  Booth,"  who  owned  and  resided  on  the 
next  farm  west,  which  la}^  on  the  west  side  of  Oak 
Orchard  Road,  and  north  side  of  the  Ridge.  Esquire 
Booth  was  among  the  very  first  settlers  of  Gaines  vil- 
lage. He  was  not  related  to  the  tavern  keej)er.  He 
was  born  in  Granby,  Connecticut,  in  1779,  and  set- 
tled in  Gaines,  in  1810.  He  removed  to  Michigan  in 
1833  and  died  tlu^re. 

Esq.  Booth  was  the  first  Supervisor  elected  north  of 
Tonawanda  swamp  to  represent  the  town  of  Ridge- 
way,  then  the  whole  of  Orleans  county,  in  1813.  He 
served  several  ■\'ears  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,     He 


256  TIOXEEPv    IIISTOKY 

Avas  an   odd   man  in  apj)earanc('  and   manners,  but 
upright  nnd  lionest. 

JAMES  :MATin:u. 

James  Mather  was  born  in  Marlborough,  Yt.,  July 
23d.,  1784.  His  family  are  said  to  be  descendants 
from  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  President  of  Harvard 
Universit}',  who  received  the  first  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  that  was  conferred  by  that  college.  Mr» 
Mather  came  to  Gaines  in  the  summer  or  fall  of  1810, 
to  look  out  a  place  for  his  settlement.  There  was 
then  some  travel  on  the  Ridge  Road,  with  a  prospect 
of  more  when  tlie  country^ was  settled.  The  Holland 
Company  had  establised  their  land  office  at  Batavia, 
and  it  seemed  to  liim  sure  that  in  time  a  village  or 
city  would  grow  up  at  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard 
Creek.  The  Oak  Orchard  trail  was  then  marked  from 
Batavia  to  the  lake,  and  Mr.  Mather  shrewdly  pre- 
dicting a  village  would  be  founded  Adhere  that  trail 
crossed  the  Rklge,  took  up  some  four  hundred  acres 
of  land  lying  on  each  side  of  the  Oak  Orchard  Road 
and  south  of  the  Ridge,  on  whicli  he  aft(.H-vrards  set- 
tled and  resided  while  he  lived. 

Before  removing  to  Gaines,  Mr,  Mather  had  resided 
for  some  time  in  the  town  of  Russia,  Herkimer  coun- 
ty, where  he  manufactured  potash  Avliich  he  sent  to 
the  Canada  market  by  way  of  Ogdeusburg.  He  was 
in  this  business  when  the  embargo  declaring  non- 
intercourse  vritli  Great  Britain  v/as  proclaimed.  He 
continued  his  trade  however,  and  by  the  skillful  dis- 
tribution of  a  few  dollars  among  the  government  offi- 
cials, his  ashes  were  allowed  to  pass  the  lines  and  his 
profits  were  large. 

In  the  winter  of  1811,  he  l)roke  up  his  establish- 
ment in  Herkimer  county  and  removed  to  his  land  in 
Gaines.  A  younger  brother,  Rufus  Mather,  assisted 
b}^  driving  a  t(\am  of  two  yoke  of  oxen  before  a  sled 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  257 

which  was  headed,  among  otlier  things,  with  three 
potash  kettles.  There  was  no  bridge  ovei*  Genesee 
River,  at  Rocliester,  and  Knfus  attempted  to  cross  on 
the  ice  near  where  the  canal  now  is.  In  the  middle 
of  the  river  the  ice  broke  and  It^t  the  loaded  sled  into 
the  water.  Riifus  succeeded  with  great  difficulty  in 
getting  out  without  loss,  and  followed  the  Ridge  to 
his  destination,  and  stopped  at  the  house  of  Cotton 
Leach,  west  of  the  j^rf  sent  village  of  Gaines.  Rufus 
remained  and  labored  for  James  the  next  summer. 
James  Mather  had  cut  down  the  trees  on  a  small  spot 
south  of  the  Ridge,  on  the  Oak  Orchard  Road,  near 
where  his  son  George  Mather  now  I'esides  ;  but  no 
clearing  within  the  bounds  of  the  village  on  the  Ridge 
had  then  beeii  made. 

Rufus  Mather  sa3's  he  felled  the  tirst  tree  iu  the  vil- 
lage of  Gaines,  on  the  Ridge  Road.  That  tree  stood 
on  the  west  side  of  Oak  Orchard  Road.  A  piece  of 
land  was  soon  cleared  tliere  and  James  Mather  built 
his  log  house  on  that  corner  in  the  spring  of  1811, 
He  married  Fanny  Bryant  February  15th,  1813. 
She  was  born  in  Marlborougli,  Vermont,  October  28th, 
1788. 

In  the  winter  of  1813,  they  commenced  house  keep- 
ing in  the  log  liouse  ]Mr.  Mather  had  built  on  his  lot, 
and  remained  there  during  the  war,  Avhen  so  many 
went  away. 

Ml".  Mather  always  ke23t  open  house,  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  country  there,  though  he  never 
I)rofessed  to  keep  tavern;  entertaining  every  one  who 
applied  to  him  for  accommodation  as  well  as  he  could, 
and  his  house  was  generally  full  of  newly  ariiving. 
emigrants  who  were  waiting  till  their  own  cabins  could 
be  built,  or  of  such  casual  strangers  as  came 
along. 

Oliver  Booth,  afterw^ards  tlie  tavern  keeper,  stop- 

17 


258  PIONEER  HISTORY 

peel  with  Mr,  Mather  when  he  first  came  in,  nntil  lie 
got  his  own  honse  built  and  fitted  up. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Mather  settled  in  Gaines,  he  set  the 
potash  kettles  he  brought  with  him  and  commenced 
buying  salts  of  lye,  or  "black  salts,"  of  the  settlers 
as  soon  as  settlers  came  in  and  made  them.  These 
salts  he  boiled  down  into  potash  and  took  them  to 
the  mouth  of  Genesee  River,  or  the  mouth  of  Oak 
Orchard  Creek,  and  sent  them  to  Montreal  to  a  mar- 
ket. He  paid  for  these  salts  in  salt  fish,  iron,  leather, 
coarse  hardware,  and  a  few  axes,  chains,  and  such 
tools  as  farmers  must  have,  which  he  obtained  in  ex- 
change for  his  potash,  and  took  care  to  sell  at  a  fair 
profit,  and  with  these  things  he  paid  somt^  money. 
He  was  in  fact  almost  the  onl}^  soui'ce  from  which 
those  who  did  not  bring  money  with  them  got  any  to 
supply  their  wants. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1811,  Mr.  Mather  finding  his 
provisions  getting  low,  went  to  the  Oak  Ore-hard 
Creek,  at  the  head  of  Stillwater,  from  the  lake,  with 
two  men  and  a  seine  and  caught  three  barrels  of  fish 
in  a  few  hours.  These  he  drew  to  the  Ridge  with  his 
oxen  and  took  them  to  Black  Creek  Mill,  a  few  miles 
south  of  Rochester,  and  with  these  fish  and  money,  he 
bought  wheat  and  pork,  got  his  wheat  ground  and 
took  it  home,  and  so  lie  was  well  supplied  the  first 
year  with  these  proyisions.  About  the  time  Orleans 
county  was  organized,  he  built  a  large  brick  build- 
ing for  a  tanner}^,  in  which  with  his  brothers  and 
others  he  carried  on  tanning  a  number  of  years, 
though  he  never  worked  at  that  business  himself.  He 
dealt  considerably  in  land,  at  one  time  owning  a 
large  farm  where  Eagle  Harbor  village  and  flouring 
mills  are  now  built,  and  several  large  farms  in  other 
places.  From  the  rise  of  value  in  these  lands,  and 
the  profits  of  his  speculations,  he  became  wealthy. 
He  died  August  29th,  1854. 


OF   OliLEANS   COUNTY.  259 

Mr.  Mather  had  seven  children. 

Louisa,  who  married  AVheeler  M.  Dewey.  She 
died  many  years  since. 

Dwight,  who  died  in  youth. 

Adeline  married  Paul  H.  Stewart. 

Eunice  married  Daniel  F.  Walbridge. 

George  married  Mary  Ann  Crane.  He  resides  on 
his  paternal  homestead. 

Ellen  married  Hon.  Noah  Davis,  of  Albion,  late  a 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Mary  married  Howard  Abeel,  a  merchant  of 
Albion. 

ELIHK    MATIIEll. 

Elihu  Mather  was  born  in  Marlborough,  \t.,  July 
26th,  1782.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade.  He  came  to 
Gaines  to  reside  in  1825,  and  went  into  business 
with  his  brother  James  in  his  tannery  and  working 
his  farm. 

In  the  great  antimasonic  excitement  arising  from 
the  abduction  of  William  Morgan,  Mr.  Elihu  Mather 
was  indicted  as  an  accessory  to  the  crime,  and  tried 
at  Albion  and  acquitted.  The  trial  occupied  ten 
days.  Mr.  Mather  continued  to  reside  in  Gaines 
until  1851,  when  he  removed  to  Coldwater,  in  Michi- 
gan, where  he  died  Januar}^  29tli,  1866, 

IIENUY    DRAKE. 

Henry  Drake  was  born  in  ISTew  Jersey,  April  6th, 
1770.  He  settled  in  Gaines  in  March,  1811.  In  1812, 
he  built  a  dam  on  Otter  Creek,  a  few  rods  north  of 
the  Ridge,  in  Gaines,  on  which  he  erected  a  sawmill, 
which  was  the  first  sawmill  built  within  the  present 
town  of  Gaines. 

Mr.  Drake  learned  tlie  clothier's  trade  in  his  youth, 
but  followed  farming  as  his  business  in  life.  He 
married  Betsey  Parks,   in  New  Jersey.     She   died 


260  PIONEER  HISTOKY 

Aiinl  16tli,    1843.     Mr.  Drake  died  December  25th, 
1863,  at  tlie  age  of  almost  94  years. 

SI3IE0N    DUTClIEli. 

!>imeon  Dutclier  was  born  in  Dover,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  April  21st,  1772.  For  lifteen  years  after  ar- 
riving at  manhood  he  labored  as  a  millwright,  a  trade 
he  assumed  without  serving  any  regular  apprentice- 
ship. He  then  commenced  preaching  and  was  or- 
dained an  Elder  in  the  Baptist  denomination.  In  the 
year  1817,  Elder  Dutcher  removed  with  his  family  to 
(Jarlton,  New  York,  and  in  1820  he  removed  to  the 
town  of  Gaines,  where  he  resided  until  he  died.  The 
l)rimar3^  object  he  had  in  coming  to  the  Holland  Pur- 
cliase  was  to  preach  and  serve  as  a  missionary  among 
tIio  peo})le,  the  Baptists  having  no  church  organiza- 
tion in  Orleans  county. 

The  people;  were  few,  poor  and  scattered,  and  Elder 
Dutcher  never  received  much  pay  for  his  ministerial 
labors,  l^it  supj)orted  his  family  mostly  by  M'orking 
a  farm.  He  used  to  preach  in  several  neighboring 
towns  in  the  log  cabins  of  settlers,  or  in  the  school 
houses  after  such  were  erected.  And  for  several 
years  he  officiated  at  nearly  all  the  marriages  and  fu- 
nerals in  this  part  of  the  countrj'. 

The  first  ft-amed  meeting  house  erected  in  Orleans 
county  was  built  in  the  village  of  Gaines  by  a  stock 
company,  who  sold  the  slips  to  whom  they  could, 
on  th<'  condition  that  the  house  should  bo  used  by 
different  denominations,  and  it  was  so  used. 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  at  Gaines  in  1816, 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Elder  Dutcher,  to  whom 
Ik;  preaclK^d  until  1827,  when  the  anti-masonic  excite- 
ment prevailed  in  his  church.  Elder  Dutcher,  who 
was  a  Free  Mason,  was  required  to  renounce  Freema- 
sonry. He  declined  to  do  so  and  was  excommunica- 
ted, and  dismissed  from  his  church. 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  201 

In  the  later  years  of  his  life  Elder  Dutcher  professed 
to  be  a  iiniversalist  in  religions  sentiment.  He  was 
always  regarded  as  a  good  man  and  was  much  be- 
loved by  the  early  settlers.  He  died  January-  22d, 
1860. 

HON.    WrLLIA?>[     .T.    BABBITT. 

William  J.  Babbitt  was  born  in  Providence,  Rhode 
Island,  September  1786.  He  learned  the  blacksmiths 
trade  of  his  father  and  worked  at  that  business  main- 
ly until  he  came  to  reside  in  Gaines,  where  he  had  a 
small  shop  and  occasionally  worked  at  his  trade  for 
several  years.  In  the  year  1812,  he  took  up  the  farm 
on  which  he  ever  afterwards  resided,  part  of  lot  thirty, 
township  lifteen,  rang(^  one,  and  moved  his  family 
there  in  1813. 

For  many  3'ears  after  Mr.  Babbitt  settled  in 
Gaines  no  professional  law}T'r  had  come  into  what  is 
now  Orleans  county.  The  people  however  would  in- 
dulge occasionally  in  a  lawsuit,  and  Mr.  Babbitt  be- 
ing a  good  talker,  and  a  man  of  more  than  common 
shrewdness,  tl^y  frequently  employed  him  to  try 
their  cases  in  their  Justices'  courts.  He  improved 
under  his  practice  until  he  became  the  most  noted 
"pettifogger"'  north  of  the  Tonawauda  Swamp, 
and  whichever  of  the  litigants  secured  the  services  of 
Esq.  Babbitt,  was  quite  sure  to  win  his  case.  He 
was  active  in  getting  the  town  of  Gaines  set  off  from 
Ridgeway  in  the  winter  of  1816,  and  July  1st  of  the 
same  3^ear,  on  his  application  a  postofRce  was  estab- 
lished in  Gaines  and  he  was  appointed  postmaster, 
which  office  he  held  liv(>  years.  This  was  the  first 
postoffice  and  he  was  the  first  postmaster  in  Gaines. 

In  1831-2  he  represented  Orleans  county  in  the  As- 
sembly of  the  State.  He  was  appointed  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  by  the  council  of  appointment  in  1815,  and 
reapi^ointed  from  time  to  time  until   the   elections  to 


262  PIONEER  HISTOKY 

that  office  were  given  to  the  people  under  the  consti- 
tution, when  he  was  elected  by  the  peo2:)le  holding 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Gaines,  in  all  23 
years. 

He  was  several  times  Supervisor  of  his  town,  and 
held  various  other  town  offices  from  time  to  time. 
He  took  pleasure  in  serving  in  official  and  fiduciary 
positions,  and  was  largely  gratified  in  this  particular 
by  his  fellow  citizens. 

He  was  remarkable  for  promptness  in  keeping  en- 
gagements. Late  in  life  he  was  heard  to  say  he  was 
never  behind  set  time  in  being  present  in  any  legal 
proceeding  to  be  had  before  him.  He  acquired  a 
character  for  uncompromising  fidelity  in  business 
matters,  and  by  a  life  of  industry  and  economy  laid 
up  a  large  i)roperty. 

He  died  July  20th,  1863. 

He  married  Eunice  Losey,  June  27th  1810.  She 
died  April  4th,  1867. 

GIDEOIS'^    FKEEMAN. 

Gideon  Freeman  was  born  in  Stillwater,  Saratoga 
county,  January  11th,  1787.  About  1799,  he  moved 
with  his  father  to  Ledyard,  Ca3aiga  county,  and  in 
March  1812,  he  settled  northwest  of  what  is  called 
Long  Bridge,  and  took  up  the  southwest  section  of 
land  now  in  the  town  of  Gaines.  He  was  the  first 
settler  in  this  locality  south  of  tlie  Ridge,  and  founder 
of  wliat  was  for  many  years  known  as  "Freeman 
Settlement." 

He  cleared  up  a  large  farm  and  carried  on  a  large 
business  as  a  farmer.  His  son,  Chester  Freeman, 
now  of  Barre,  relates  that  in  the  cold  season  of  1816, 
liis  father  planted  forty  acres  to  corn,  wliich  was  a 
total  failure.  He  had  a  large  stock  of  hogs  that  year 
which  lie  expected  to  fatten  on  his  corn,  from  the  loss 
of  whi(,*h,  having  nothing  tq  f(3ed  them,  many  of  them 


OF   OKLEANS  COUNTY.  263 

starved  to  death  in  tlie  next  fall  and  winter.  He  had 
a  large  stock  of  cattle  at  that  time  and  but  little  food 
for  them. 

Mr.  Freeman  choj^ped  over  nearly  fifty  acres  of 
woods  to  browse  his  cattle  in  the  winter  of  1816-17, 
cutting  down  all  trees  suitable  for  that  purpose,  and 
losing  only  about  six  of  his  cattle  from  starvation. 
Mr.  Freeman  owned  a  part  of  the  section  lying  next 
east  of  his  home  farm.  On  that  land  one  year  he 
s  owed  forty  acres  to  wheat,  which  grew  very  large. 
At  harvest  time  he  measured  off  one  acre  of  his  field 
and  cut'  and  cleaned  the  wheat  on  it,  getting  fifty-five 
bushels  of  wheat  on  that  acre. 

Mr.  Freeman  was  a  liberal,  generous  man,  and  la- 
bored hard  to  induce  settlers  to  come  in  and  to  open 
the  country  to  inhabitants.  He  sustained  some  large 
losses  in  his  business  and  became  insolvent,  finally 
losing  all  his  land.  He  removed  to  Ypsilanti,  Mich- 
gan,  where  he  died  in  1832. 

Mr.  Levi  Atwell,  Joseph  Stoddard  and  Reuben 
Clark  were  among  those  who  moved  into  the  Freeman 
settlemen  soon  after  it  was  commenced. 

CHESTER  FREEMAN. 

Chester  Freeman,  son  of  Gideon  Freeman,  was 
born  in  Scij)io,  Cayuga  county,  August  18th,  1807. 
He  married  Eliza  Chidester  in  183.1.  She  died  in 
March,  1848,  and  October  30th,  1849,  he  married 
Amanda  Morris.  He  has  resided  on  lot  thirty-one, 
in  township  fourteen  range  two,  in  Barre,  since 
1842.  He  came  into  Orleans  county  with  his  father 
in  1812. 

DANIEL    PRATT. 

Daniel  Pratt  was  born  in  Westmoreland,  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  March  25th,  1788.  He  married  Polly 
Bailey,  August,  1809,  and   moved  to  Gaines  and  set- 


264  PIONEEK  niSTOKY 

tied  OR  the  Ridge  in  the  spring  of  1810.  His  wife, 
Polly,  died  August  30th,  1812.  He  married  Caroline 
Smith,  January  8th,  1815. 

He  went  east  during  the  war  of  1812  and  remained 
two  years,  then  returned  to  Ids  farm,  on  wliicli  he 
labored  until  his  death,  October  7th,  1845.  Mrs. 
Caroline  Pratt,  died  September  18th,  1831. 

The  first  wheat  sold  by  Mr.  Pratt  was  taken  on 
an  ox  sled  by  him  to  Rochester,  and  sold  for  twent}"- 
live  cents  a  bushel. 

Mr.  Pratt  was  a  man  of  quiet  habits,  trusty  and 
faithful.  He  was  mucli  ]-espected  by  liis  acquaintan- 
ces. 

He  was  Town  Clerk  of  Gaines  for  many  years  and 
held  the  office  of  Overseer  of  tlie  Poor  a  long  time. 

DANIEL   BROWN. 

Daniel  Brown  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  N,  Y., 
June  15tli,  1787.  He  removed  with  liis  father's  fami- 
ly to  Upper  Canada,  in  the  year  1800.  He  resided  in 
Canada  during  the  war  1812.  He  experienced  mucli 
trouble  in  consequence  of  liis  refusal  to  bear  arms 
in  that  war  against  his  native  country.  He  was  in- 
dicted and  tried  for  treason  and  acquitted.  In  Janu- 
ary, 181 G,  he  remo^'ed  to  the  town  of  Gaines  and  set- 
tled one  mile  north-east  from  Albion. 

Mr.  Brown  has  established  an  enviabh?  character 
for  integrity  among  his  acquaintances,  and  has  been 
honored  and  respected. 

He  was  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Gaines  in  1844, 
and  lias  held  various  other  town  offices. 

He  married  Maiy  Willsea,  in  Canada,  in  the  year 
1807. 

Mr.  Hntwn  is  still  living. 

WriJJAM      \V.    KrG(iLES. 

Wm.  W.  Ruggles  was  born  in  Hai'dvvick,  Massa- 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  265 

chusetts,  January  1st,  1800.  His  father,  Seth  liug- 
gles,  removed  witli  liis  family  in  1804  to  Poultne}-, 
Vermont,  wliere  \Vm.  W.  labored  on  a  farm  until  he 
was  eighteen  yeaivs  old.  He  then  entered  the  office  of 
Judge  Williams,  at  Salem,  N.  Y.,  as  a  student  at 
law.  Here  he  studied  law  eight  months  in  the  year, 
teaclilng  school  winters'  He  closed  his  preparatory 
law  study  with  Chief  Justice  Savage,  at  Albany. 
Having  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  came  to  Albion 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Moody,  which 
was  soon  dissolved. 

He  removed  to  Gaines  in  1824,  and  begaJi  tlie  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  there. 

In  the  contest  between  Gaines  and  Albion  for  the 
county  buildings,  he  took  an  active  part  for  his  vil- 
lage. 

He  aided  in  founding  Gaines  Academy  and  the 
Farmers  Bank  of  Orleans,  at  Gaines. 

He  exerted  himself  to  have  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad  located  along  the  Ridge,  and  used  his  inllu- 
ence  in  favor  of  the  building  of  Niagara  Suspension 
Bridge,  and  was  a  stockholder  in  that  company. 

In  his  profession  as  a  lawyer  he  was  diligent  and 
successful.  He  held  the  offices  of  Master  in  Chancey, 
Supreme  Court  Commissioner,  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  l*leas,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  various 
other  town  offices.  He  was  several  times  the  candi- 
date of  the  Democratic  party  for  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, but  failed  of  an  election  as  his  party  was  largt'- 
ly  in  the  minority. 

Judge  Ruggles  had  a  cultivated  nnud,  (Miriched  by 
studious  habits  of  life.  He  was  particularly  fond  of 
Astronomy,  on  which  he  left  some  lectures  in  manu- 
script, written  by  him. 

In  the  autumn  of  1849  he  went  to  Chicago,  intend- 
ing to  reside  and  practice  law  there,  but  having  taken 
cold  while   on  jiis  voyage   around   th«*   lake,  he  was 


266  I'lONEEK  HISTORY 

compelled  to  return  to  Gaines  siek,  and  never  re- 
covered, dying  at  Gaines,  April  22d,  1850. 

Ho  spent  a  year  surveying  government  land  in 
Michigan,  when  General  Cass  was  Governor,  where 
he  contracted  fever  and  ague,  from  which  he  suffered 
ever  afterwards. 

He  married  Miss  .Inn  Davis,  daughter  of  Dea.  Perry 
Davis,  of  Gaines,  in  1827.  She  died  Aug.  20th,  1846, 
He  left  three  children,  William  Oakley,  now  a  broker 
in  New  York  ;  Henry  C,  a  Civil  Engineer  in  Cincin- 
natti,  Ohio ;  and  Helen,  who  married  Mr.  Fred 
Hoott,  and  resides  in  Gaines. 

•  EAGLE      IIARHOK. 

Eagle  Harbor,  a  thriving  village  on  the  Erie  Canal, 
in  the  town  of  Gaines,  is  said  to  have  been  so  named 
because  n  large  bird's  nest  w^as  found  in  a  tree  grow- 
ing there  about  the  time  the  canal  was  surveyed,  sup- 
posixl  to  have  been  built  b}^  an  eagle. 

The  land  on  which  the  village  is  built  was  for  a 
number  of  years  at  first  held  under  articles  from  the 
Holland  Company. 

Harvey  Smith  took  a  deed  of  eighty  acres  on  the 
south-east  corner  of  lot  thirty-six,  November  1,  1819. 
Stephen  N.  Chuljb  took  a  deed  of  fifty-three  acres 
next  north,  Septi^mber  0th,  1884,  and  Macy  Pratt,  of 
one  hundied  and  thii'ty-eight  acres  north  of  Chubb, 
November  29th,  1819.' 

On  the  East  side,  Asahel  Fitch  took  a  deed  of 
one  hundred  twenty-live  acres,  part  of  lot  twenty- 
six,  February  20th,  1821.  James  Mather  took  a 
deed  of  two  liundred  acres  next  north  of  Fitch,  No- 
vember 27th,  1829 ;  and  Robert  Huntei-,  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  acres  next  north  of  Mather, 
January  81st,  1828. 

South    side;  of  Canal,  fifty   acres    of  lot  thirty-five 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  267 

were  deeded  to  Amos  S.  Samson,  December  22d, 
1836. 

Stephen  Abbott  took  njD  the  land  afterwards  deeded 
to  Harvey  Smith,  and  commenced  cutting  down  tim- 
ber on  it  in  the  winter  of  1812.  This  was  probably 
the  first  clearing  done  in  Eagle  Harbor. 

Little  improvement  was  made  until  work  was 
begun  on  the  canal.  The  high  embankment  over  Otter 
Creek  was  constructed  by  a  man  named  Richardson. 
He  opened  a  store  here  to  accommodate  his  workmen, 
which  was  the  first  store. 

Hicks  and  Sherman  bought  Kichardson  s  store  and 
continued  it  after  him. 

A,  Mr.  Hicks  built  the  old  red  warehouse,  the  first 
in  the  village,  south  side  of  the  canal,  where  Collins' 
warehouse  now  stands.  This  was  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  A.  S.  Samson  afterwards. 

In  1832,  this  warehouse  was  sold  to  Willis  P.  Col- 
lins who  opened  a  dry  goods  store  in  it  and  continued 
it  about  six  years,  then  built  a  store  and  warehouse 
on  the  east  side  of  the  street  and  moved  there. 

David  Smith  built  the  first  sawmill  about  forty 
rods  north  of  the  canal,  on  Otter  Creek. 

James  Mather  built  a  sawmill  on  the  south  side  of 
the  canal  in  1826. 

N.  Pratt,  J.  Delano  and  L.  Northrop,  built  the 
lower  dam  and  sawmill  in  1825. 

James  Leaton  bought  the  Hunter  farm,  and  he  in 
company  with  W,  P.  Collins,  built  the  north  fiouring 
mill  in  1837.  This  mill  was  burned  in  t]i<^  fall  of  1839, 
and  re-built  immediately. 

A  large  fiouring  mill  on  the  south  side  of  the  canal 
was  built  by  General  E.  S.  Beach,  in  1847.  This  mill 
has  since  been  burned. 

The  brick  church  was  built  in  1827  by  the  united 
means  of   Presbyterians,   Methodists  and  Baptists, 


I'lOXEEK   IIISTOKY 

and  owned  lialf  by  Methodists,  and  one-foiirtli  each 
l)j  the  otlier  denominations. 

Tiie  first  meeting  liouse  was  taken  down  and  rebuilt 
in  1845,  the  same  parties  building  and  owning  the 
new  house,  as  they  did  the  old  one. 

Tlie  Wesleyan  Methodists  erected  tlieir  cliurch  ed- 
ifice in  1845-0. 

Eagle  Harbor  postoflice  was  established  about  the 
year  1837,  with  AV.  P.  Collins  first  postmaster. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  in  1822,  on  tlie 
west  side  of  the  street. 

The  second  school  house  was  built  on  the  lot  now 
owned  hy  the  distri(;t,  in  1841  ;  and  the  third  school 
house  in  1846. 

Col.  Jonathan  Delano  was  the  first  carpenter  and 
joiner. 

Samuel  Robinson  was  the  first  slioemaker,  and  Da- 
vid Sraitli  the  first  tavern  keeper. 

Col.  Delano  and  Sam.  Robinson  the  first  grocers, 
Mr.  Hurd  the  first  blacksmith,  and  Dr.  -lames  Brown 
the  first  physician. 

The  growth  of  Eagle  Harbor  has  been  greatly  pro- 
moted by  the  large  capital  employed  there  by  Gen. 
Beach  in  erecting  mills  and  manufacturing  flour,  and 
by  the  active  business  energy  of  Mr.  Willis  P.  Col- 
lins, for  many  years  a  resident  in  the  ^•illage,  and  tlie 
foremost  man  in  ever}'  enterprise  teiiding  to  add  wealth 
and  importance  to  the  place. 


CHAPTER   XX. 


TOWN    OP"     KENDALL. 

Partitioned  between  State  of  Connecticut  and  Pultney  Estate — First 
Settler— First  ^larriage— First  Birth— First  Tavern- First  Death- 
First  Store— First  Scliool— First  Saw  Mill— First  Public  Pteligious 
Service — First  Physician- First  Highway  Irom  Kendall  Corners  to 
Ridge — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 

ENDALL  was  named  in  lionor  of  Amos  Ken- 
dall, Postmaster  General  at  the  time  it  was 
formed  from  ^STurra}^,  A2~>ril  7th,  1837.  From 
its  location,  being  oft*  tlie  line  of  travel,  and  because 
the  land  was  not  snrvejed  into  lots,  and  foraially  put 
in  market  to  sell  to  settlers  as  soon  as  lands  on  the 
Holland  Purchase,  settlements  were  not  made  as  early 
or  as  numerous  as  in  towns  on  the  Purchase.  The 
State  of  Connecticut  and  the  Pultney  Estate  had 
owned  these  lands  under  a  joint  title,  and  for  consid- 
erable time  they  remained  undivided. 

In  Jul}^  181 0,  Dr.  Levi  Ward  became  agent  for  the 
State  of  Connecticut  to  sell  their  lands  on  the  100,000 
acre  tract,  of  which  Kendall  fonns  a  part.  And  in 
1811  a  foi-mal  partition  of  land  between  the  State  of 
Connecticut  and  the  Pultney  Estate  was  made,  and 
Mr.  Joseph  F(^llows  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Pult- 
ney Estate. 

Land  offices  were  opened  by  these  agents,  and  set- 
tlers were  invited  to  come  in  and  take  lands.  But  few 
came  into  Kendall  until  after  the  cold  season  of  181G, 
and  for  some  time  after  that  they  had  difficulty  in  ac- 


270  PIOlSrEEK  IIISTOEY 

quiring  a  goo(J  title  to  farms  bought  of  the  Pultney 
Estate. 

Samuel  Bates,  from  Vermont,  is  said  to  liave  been 
the  first  white  man  who  settled  in  this  town,  locating 
on  lot  111,  in  East  Kendall,  in  1812.  He  cleared  some 
land  and  sowed  wheat,  but  did  not  move  his  family 
in  until  1814. 

David  Jones,  Adin  Manlej^,  Amos  Randall,  John 
Earns  worth,  Zebulon  Rice,  Benjamin  Morse,  and 
Nathaniel  Brown,  settled  in  1815. 

Felix  Augur,  Rev.  Stephen  Randall,  Ansel  Bal- 
com,  George  Balcom,  Stephen  Bliss,  James  Weed, 
in  1816. 

Ethan  Graham,  William  Clark  and  his  son  Robert 
Clark,  came  in  1817. 

The  first  marriage  in  town  was  that  of  James  Aiken 
to  Esther  A.  Bates,  March  2d,  1817. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  Bartlett  B.  Morse,  in 
November,  1815. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  son  of  Geo.  Balcom, 
in  181G. 

Hiram  Thompson  kept  the  first  store  in  1823.  The 
first  inn  was  kept  by  Lyman  Spicer  in  1823. 

The  first  sawmill  was  built  by  Augur  and  Boyden, 
in  1819,  and  Gurdon  Balcom  taught  the  first  school 
in  1819. 

The  first  gristmill  was  built  by  Ose  Webster,  on  the 
site  on  Sandy  Creek,  now  occupied  by  the  mills  of 
his  son  Ebenezer  K.  Webster,  forming  a  nucleus  for 
the  settlement  now  known  as  Webster's  Mills.  Pre- 
vious to  the  erection  of  this  gristmill,  the  people  of 
Kendall  took  their  grain  to  Rochester,  or  to  FarwelF  s 
mill  in  Clarendon,  to  be  ground. 

Farweir  s  mill  was  much  nearest,  but  the  road  to  it 
was  almost  impassable  with  a  load,  and  the  little  mill 
had  not  capacity  to  do  all  the  work  in  that  part  of  the 
country. 


OF   ORLEA^^S    COUNTY.  271 

The  first  religious  service  in  Kendall  was  conducted 
"by  Elder  Stephen  Randall,  a  Methodist  preacher. 

The  first  physician  who  practiced  in  town  was  Dr. 
Theophilus  Randall,  though  T)r.  Rowell,  of  Clarkson. 
was  frequently  called. 

AYhen  Mr.  Bates  settled  in  Kendall  there  was  no 
public  highway  in  town.  Settlers  and  others  coming 
there  usually  left  the  Ridge  a  little  east  of  Kendall 
and  traveled  a  road  which  had  been  opened  into  what 
is  now  Hamlin  ;  thence  west  to  Kendall.  The  first  higli- 
Avay  leading  south  from  Kendall  to  the  Ridge,  Avas 
located  and  cut  out  b}^  the  early  inhabitants  without 
any  public  authority,  from  Kendall  Mills  following- 
up  the  west  side  of  Sandy  Creek  to  the  Ridge  road. 
This  road  is  yet  traveled  a  part  of  the  way. 

The  first  settlers  of  Kendall  were  chiefly  from  Ver- 
mont, bred  among  the  Green  Mountains,  and  the 
change  of  climate,  air,  wat(?r,  food  and  occupation 
they  experienced  in  this  new  and  comparatively  level 
countr}',  was  attended  with  the  usual  consequences. 
They  were  almost  all  sick  at  times,  and  although  the 
utmost  kindness  prevailed,  and  ever}"  one  did  all  the}' 
could  to  help  themselves  and  others  to  alleviate  suf- 
fering, yet  so  f«^w  were  well,  and  in  their  little  rude 
huts  furnished  only  with  a  most  scanty  stock  of  con- 
veniences, short  of  provisions,  and  no  place  near 
where  the  common  necessaries  for  the  sick  could  be 
obtained,  sohie  of  these  people  suffered  great  misery. 
If  they  sometimes  felt  discouraged  and  wished  them- 
selves away,  when  tlKy  were  sick  they  could  not  go, 
and  when  they  got  better  they  would  not  go,  for  the}" 
came  here  to  make  them  homes,  and  with  the  stub- 
born resolution  of  their  race  they  persisted  in  the 
work  they  had  begun,  till  their  fondest  hopes  were 
more  than  realized  in  the  beautiful  country  theii'  toils 
and  sacrifices  made  out  of  the  wilderness. 

The  principal  settlement  in  town  for  several  years 


272  PIONEEll   HISTORY 

at  first,  was  in  the  east  -pari,  near  the  center.  The 
Randalls,  Bates,  Clarks,  Manley,  and  other  lead- 
ing men  tliei'e  were  intelligent,  and  wanted  the  lights 
of  civilization  to  sliine  into  their  settlement,  if  it  was 
away  in  the  woods.  Accordingly  they  met  together 
about  the  year  1820,  and  formed  a  Public  Library 
Association.  Among  the  names  or  prominent  actors 
in  this  movement  were  H.  W.  Bates,  Adin  Manley, 
Dr.  Tlieophilus  Randall,  Amos  Randall, David  Jones, 
Calvin  Freeman,  Orrin  Doty,  James  M.  Clark,  Benj. 
Morse,  Nathaniel  Brown,  Caleb  Clark  and  Noah 
Priest. 

They  raised  by  contribution  among  themselves  in 
various  ways,  about  seventy-five  volumes  of  books, 
organized  themselves  into  a  society,  elected  their  offi- 
cer's, and  kept  up  their  organization  about  ten  years. 
Mr.  Amos  Randall  was  librarian,  and  these  books 
were  well  read  in  tliat  neighborhood,  and  the  habit  of 
thought  and  study  thus  imj^lanted  has  borne  its 
proper  fruit  in  after  years,  in  the  numbers  of  Intelli- 
gent and  infiuential  men  who  have  grown  up  there. 

They  were  too  poor  to  each  take  a  newspaper,  and 
tlie  nearest  post  office  was  at  Clarkson.  Several  men 
united  in  taking  a  paper.  AVlien  it  came  to  the  post 
office  whoever  of  the  com^Dany  happened  there  first 
took  out  the  paper,  and  the  neighbors  would  come 
together  to  hear  it  read — those  who  did  not  contribute 
to  pa}^  the  expense  as  well  as  those  Avho  did — and  the 
paper  was  then  passed  to  some  other  family  and  read 
over  and  over  until  it  was  worn  out. 

Salt  water  was  early  discovered  in  Kendall,  and 
salt  made  there  to  supj)ly  the  people. 

In  1821,  Mr.  II.  W.  Bates  and  Caleb  Clark  dug  a 
well  and  planked  it  up  to  obtain  brine  on  Mr.  Bates' 
faini  and  there  they  made  about  one  thousand  bush- 
els of  salt.  They  sold  their  kettles  to  a  Mr.  Owen, 
who  mad(!  salt  in  them  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 


OF    OKLEANS    COUNTY.  273 

town.     Salt    making    in   Kendall    was   dii^continued 
wdien  tli(^  Erie  canal  opened. 

About  the  year  1825,  a  company  of  Norw^egians, 
about  lifty-two  in  number,  settled  on  tlie  lake  shore, 
in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town.  They  came  from 
Norway  together  and  took  up  land  in  a  body.  They 
were  an  industrious,  ])rudent  and  worthy  })eople  held 
in  good  repute  by  people  in  that  vicint}'.  After  a  few^ 
years  the}-  began  to  move  away  to  Join  their  country- 
men who  had  S(4tled  in  Illiiiois,  and  but  few  of  that 
colon}^  are  still  in  Kendall. 

They  thought  it  very  impoitant  that  ev(^ry  family 
should  have  land  and  a  home  of  thrir  o^A•n.  A  neigh- 
bor once  asked  a  little  Norwegian  boy  whose  father 
happenixl  to  be  too  poor  to  own  land,  wdiere  liis 
father  lived?  and  was  answered,  "  O,  we  don't  live 
nowhere,  we  liain't  <;-ot  no  land.'' 


BIOCillAPHIES  OF  EARLY  SEITLEKS. 


ADIX   MAXLEY 


"I  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  March  10,  1793. 
1  was  brought  up  among  tlie  boys  of  New  England, 
never  liaving  belonged  to  the  '  upper  ten.'  J  roughed 
with  the  hardy  sporting  ones,  always  ivady  for  ath- 
letic games,  and  could  commonly  act  well  my  part. 
AVhen  about  twenty-four  years  old  I  was  taken  with 
the  western  fever,  and  having  laid  up  two  or  three 
hundred  dollars,  in  time  saved  while  sowing  my  'wild 
oats,'  I  b(Jiight  a  horse  and  wagon  and  started  with 
three  others  for  the  Genesee  country.  Not  knowing 
or  thinking  of  any  trouble  ahead,  we  dashed  away. 
One  of  my  ti-aveling  companions  was  Stephen  Kan- 
dall,  Jr.,  son  of  Rev.  Stephen  Randall,  who  had 
previously  gone  west,  and  tlien  resided  at  Avon. 
18 


274  PIONKEK    HISTOltY 

The  son  now  resides  in  the  town  of  Union,  Mom'oe 
county,  iind  lias  got  to  be  an  old  man  and  wealthy. 
We  arrived  in  Avon  in  September,  1815.  From  thence 
we  made  our  wa}'  into  Murray',  and  to  what  is  now 
Kendall,  by  way  of  Rochester.  At  Rochester  we 
were  glad  to  get  into  tlie  barn  with  the  horses  for  a 
night' s  lodging,  there  being  about  thirty  men,  and 
liow  many  horses  I  cannot  tell.  Which  made  most 
noise  would  be  difficult  to  tell  ;  one  thing  I  do  know, 
the  men  swore  most  and  drank  the  most  whisk}'. 
Tliat  was  an  awfid  company.  It  seemed  as  if  they 
Avere  the  liltli  ajid  otlscouring  of  the  whole  country. 
In  the  morning  1  })roposed  to  sell  my  horse  for  I  was 
short  of  funds  and  had  no  farther  use  for  him.  A 
gentlemanly  appearing  man  by  the  name  of  Gilvreed 
offered  to  buy  him.  He  said  he  had  good  notes 
against  a  responsible  man,  but  the  notes  amounted 
to  more  than  tiie  ]nice  of  the  horse,  and  I  might  give 
my  note  for  the  balance,  and  'as  to  the  value  of  the 
notes,  I  might  enquire  of  gentlemen  who  knew,  at  the 
same  time  referring  to  some  standing  by,  who  said 
they  w^ere  good  and  no  mistake.  So  the  exchange 
was  made  in  due  form  and  both  parties  were  highly 
gratified. 

But  the  result  was  that  tlie  makei-  of  the  notes  was 
not  worth  a  straw,  and  the  man,  Gilvreed,  was  worse. 
This  was  m}'  first  financial  operation  in  the  west. 
What  added  to  my  liumiliation  was,  I  thought  I  had 
such  a  vast  knowledge  of  men  and  things  as  to  be 
proof  against  being  outwitted  by  anybodj';  and  that 
I  knew  more  than  'old  folks.''  I  wonder  if  boys 
think  so  of  themselves  now-a-days '( 

I  then  made  my  way  west  along  the  Ridge  Road  to 
Murray  Cornc^rs,  now  Clarkson,  where  Dr.  Baldwin 
liadlocat^^d  and  kept  a  tavern,  which  at  that  time  was 
a  very  lucrative  T)usiness,  as  ])eople  were  flocking 
from  the  east  ra])id]y. 


OF   ORLEAIVS   COUNTY.  275 

From  Muna}'  Corners  we  struck  off  iiortli-west 
what  was  then  called  '  Black  North,'  a  region  where 
the  probability  was,  what  the  miisketoes  did  not  eat 
up,  the  fever  and  ague  would  kill.  On  we  went, 
nothing  fearing,  until  we  came  to  wliat  was  called 
'Yanty  Creek,'  where  we  found  three  families  loca- 
ted, who  I  believe  were  the  only  white  inhabitants 
in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Kendall.  Thej^  were  H. 
W.  Bates,  Amos  Randall,  and  Benjamin  Morse  and 
their  families.  I  concluded  to  make  a  '  pitch '  here. 
I  now  had  to  learn  the  customs  and  emploj'ments  of 
the  people  among  whom  I  was  going  to  reside,  which 
consisted  mainly  of  chopping,  rolling  logs,  raising 
log  houses,  drinking  whisky  to  keep  off  the  fever 
and  ague,  hunting  deer,  bear,  raccoons,  bees  and 
catching  fish. 

After  working  hard  at  a  log  raising,  and  taking- 
cold  after  it,  I  was  awakened  in  the  night  b}'  an  aw- 
ful'shaking'  and  could  not  tell  what  it  meant,  but 
found  out  sure  enough  afterward. 

In  the  spring  of  1816,  I  went  to  work  in  good 
earnest  to  clear  a  patch  of  land  on  which  to  raise  a 
little  of  the  needful,  and  behold  in  June  there  came  a 
frost  and  spoiled  all  our  labor  and  made  our  corn- 
fields in  the  wilderness,  instead  of  '  blossoming  like 
the  rose,'  look  as  though  the  fire  had  run  through 
them. 

The  next  fall  I  was  taken  down  with  the  ague 
'proper,'  and  in  attemi)ting  to  break  it  up  I  made  it 
worse,  until  it  became  aiqful.  I  theii  made  up  my 
mind  to  make  my  way  back  to  Massachusetts.  But 
how  was  I  to  do  it  '\  I  was  so  weak  I  could  not  walk 
a  mile.  Finall}^  I  found  some  men  going  to  Vermont. 
and  agreed  with  them  to  take  me  along  witli  them 
and  let  me  ride  i)art  of  the  time.  If  I  could  remem- 
ber their  names  I  would  record  tliem  witli  gratitude 
for  their  kindness. 


270  pioNEin:  iiistoky 

I  found  my  unconquera'ble  Avill  had  a  wonderful  eftect 
upon  my  body.  I  had  no  more  ague  on  my  journey, 
though  I  had  it  every  day  before  I  set  out.  I  went 
to  Massachusetts,  and  remained  till  I  got  well  re- 
cruited, and  nothing  daunted  by  what  I  had  suffered, 
I  determined  to  return  again  to  the  west,  and  Janua- 
yy  17th,  1817,  I  was  married  to  Miss  Miriam  Deming, 
and  in  February  following,  with  my  wife,  my  brother 
and  his  wife  and  one  child,  Eri  Twitchell  and  wife, 
and  Nathaniel  Brown,  we  started  with  three  yoke  of 
oxen  hitched  to  a  huge  covered  wagon.  The  perils  of 
that  journey  were  neither  few  nor  small  in  pass- 
ing over  mountains  covered  with  snow  and  ice, 
sidling  roads  with  yawning  gulfs  below,  and  crossing 
streams  on  ice,  and  floundering  through  snow  drifts, 
with  a  constant  headwind  blowing  in  our  faces  for 
twenty -two  days  together. 

When  we  arrived  in  tlie  neighborhood  of  our  new 
liome,  our  neighbors  hailed  oui-  coming  with  joy,  and 
wanted  a  little  Hour  just  to  make  a  cake.  I  suppose 
they  had  gatheired  some  sticks  and  had  baked  their 
last  meal. 

We  moved  into  a  small  log  hut  with  only  one  room 
the  fireplace  against  the  logs  at  one  end,  with  a  stick 
chimney,  bark  roof  and  floor.  Taking  it  altogether 
we  tliought  it  a  terrible  place  to  live  in. 

We  liad  three  yoke  of  oxen  and  nothing  for  them 
to  eat,  this  was  the  worst  of  all.  We  turned  them 
into  the  woods  and  cut  browse  for  tliem,  but  the  poor 
cattle  suffered  mucli. 

In  the  next  spring  Ave  liad  to  pay  one  dollar  a 
bushel  for  potatoes,  and  alike  price  for  oats,  and  no 
money  to  buy  with  at  that.  AVe  got  some  potatoes  to 
plant  and  the}^  came  up  twice,  once  by  natural  growth 
and  once  rooted  up  by  the  hogs.  We  set  them  out 
again,  my  wife  helping  me,  for  she  vras  a  true  '  yoke 
fellow.' 


OF   OKLEANrt    COUNTY.  277 

So  we  plodded  on  througli  the  summer,  with  wheat 
costing  S2.50  a  "bushel,  pork  twenty-five  cents  a  pound. 
Our  first  child  was  horn  Sept.  24th  of  this  year.  It 
was  very  feehle,  and  remained  so  for  a  long  time,  its 
mother  having  the  fever  and  ague  every  day  for  nearly 
seven  months,  and  taking  care  of  her  child  the  most  of 
the  time.  At  six  months  old  the  child  weighed  onl}' 
four  pounds  !  Thus  we  toiled  on  for  three  years. 
The  third  yeav  w^e  raised  wheat  and  other  crops 
enough  for  our  comfort,  and  had  built  a  framed  ad- 
dition to  our  house.  Our  prospects  now  seemed  fav- 
orable for  going  ahead,  but  in  March  following,  our 
house  took  fire  and  was  consumed,  together  with  all 
our  provisions,  and  nearly  all  our  household  furniture. 
Under  the  circumstances,  this  was  a  sore  trial  to  us. 
We  then  had  three  cliildren,  and  no  wdiere  to  lay  oui- 
heads.  We  had  nothing  to  eat  except  what  came  from 
charity.  Our  neighbors  were  poor  but  exceedingly 
good. 

After  a  while  we  got  another  house  and  toiled  on. 
getting  together  some  of  this  world's  goods.  We  had 
ten  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  grow  up  to  be  men 
and  w^omen.  We  have  sent  nine  of  them  to  school  at 
once. 

My  wife  died  July  80,  1857,  aged  04  years.  I  have 
never  experienced  an}'  calamity  in  m}'  life  tliat  afflicted 
me  like  her  death,  with  such  severit}'. 

For  several  years  after  I  came  into  this  country,  I 
spent  considerable  time  going  far  and  near  to  assist 
in  raising  log  buildings.  Sometimes  going  several 
miles  and  carrying  my  dinner  in  my  hand. 

Mr.  H.  W.  Bates  and  myself  were  accustomed  to 
labor  much  together,  changing  works.  In  the  winter 
of  1816,  we  went  a  mile  into  the  woods  to  chop  ;  there 
by  accident  a  tree  fell  on  him  crushing  him  badly. 
Had  lie  been  alone  he  would  have  perished.  On  an- 
other occasion  Mr.  Bates  and  another  man  witli  my- 


278  PIONEER  HISTORY 

self,  went  two  miles  into  the  Avoods  one  day  in  June,, 
and  felled  the  timber  on  two  acres.  I  think  the  like- 
was  never  done  in  that  neighborhood  before  or  since. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  Genesee  country,  in- 
temperance prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent.  Almost 
everybody  drank  whisky  free  as  water  when  they 
conld  get  it,  and  I  am  surprised  so  many  escaped 
total  and  eternal  ruin.  Many  years  ago  I  saw  the- 
evil  and  totally  abandoned  the  use  of  every  thing  that 
i  ntoxicates  as  a  beverage  and  labored  faithfully  as  I 
could  to  save  others.  For  my  zeal  and  persistence  in 
opposing  tlif^  traffic  in  liquor,  I  have  suffered  much 
from  rumsellers.  At  an  early  day  I  have  seen  Justi- 
ces Courts  in  session  with  a  bottle  of  whisky  on  the 
table  before  them,  thus  polluting  the  fountains  of 
justice  with  the  vile  abomination,  and  if  the 
Honorable  Court  happened  to  become  too  much  ah- 
sorbcd  with  the  cj-eature,  they  would  adjourn  over  to 
cool  off. 

I  have  had  a  large  experience  in  hunting  bears,, 
deer,  raccoons  and  wolves,  and  camping  out  in  the 
woods  in  cold  and  stoi-m,  without  fire  or  food,  working- 
out  in  the  dead  of  winter,  eating  frozen  dinners  in  the 
woods,  sharing  fully  my  part  in  all  sorts  of  hardships 
which  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  first  settlers  here.  I  have 
endured  it  all,  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  thankful 
to  that  good  Providence  which  has  cai'i'ied  me  through 
so  far  and  so  safely. 

ADIN  MANLEY." 

Albion,  F'cbriiary  20tli,  1801. 

Mr.  Mauley  dicxi  in  AlT)ion,  July  2nth,  1867,  aged 
74  years. 

IJOHEIIT    CI.AUK. 

"I  was  born  in  Lisbon,  Connecticut,  October  25th,. 
1801.  My  ancestors  came  to  America  from  England 
s<>me  time  in   the    sixteenth   century.     My  father  re- 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  279 

moved  to  Columbus,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  in  1805. 
In  1810  he  removed  to  Utica,  and  in  1817  he  settled 
with  his  family  on  what  was  then  called  the  Triangle 
Tract,  n(^ar  the  county  line,  and  between  the  towns  of 
Kendall  and  Hamlin,  about  three  miles  from  Lake 
Ontario.  The  place  was  then  called  Clark's  settle- 
ment, because  three  brothers  of  the  name  of  Clark 
settled  tlieie.  My  uncles,  Caleb  and  James  settled 
there  one  year  before  my  fatlier,  whose  name  was 
William  Clark,  came  on,  which  was  quite  a  help  to 
us,  for  they  had  a  little  wheat  sown,  and  some  corn 
and  potatoes  planted. 

When  my  lather  arrived  there  was  not  a  pound  ol 
pork  or  tloui'  in  the  settlement,  except  what  he  brought 
with  him  ;  and  tlie  next  day  the  pork.  Hour  and  whis- 
ky were  divided  among  tlie  neighbors. 

One  reason  for  the  entire  destitution  among  the  set- 
tlers was  the  anti<'ii)ation  of  riiy  father  s  arrival,  for 
they  all  knew  he  would  bring  a  supply  for  a  time, 
and  so  neglected  to  ])]<)vide  for  themselves  otherwise. 

The  names  of  tlie  families  then  in  the  settlement 
Avere  Bates,  Priest,  Randall,  Balcom,  Ross,  Clark 
and  two  by  name  of  Manle}'. 

The  setljers,  in  anticipation  of  our  coming  had 
peeled  elm  bark  in  tli(^  montli  of  June  previous, 
enough  to  form  a  roof  to  a  liouse,  and  on  our  arrival 
they  commenc(Hl  cutting  logs  for  a  liouse,  and  to  clear 
a  spot  of  ground  large  (Plough  to  set  it  on,  and  in  a 
few  days  it  was  rais(»d  and  covered  with  bark,  in  true 
pioneer  style.  'Plny^  also  split  l)asswood  and  hewed 
slabs  for  a  tioor,  which  covei-ed  about  two-thirds  ot 
llie  surface  of  the  room,  the  remainder  being  left  for 
the  fireplace  and  hearth. 

AVenoAv  moved  into  our  neAv  house  and  (Mnnmenced 
our  pioneer  labors. 

The  door  of  our  liouse  was  a  bed  blanket,  a,nd  win- 
dows >vere  liardl^'  necessarw  for   our   liouse  was  not 


280  PIONKKK    HISTOItV 

'•chinked'  and  sufficient  liglit  came  in  tlirough  crevi- 
ces between  tlie  logs,  and  a  large  space  was  left  open 
in  the  roof  for  the  smoke  to  pass  tlirougli.  Onr  iire 
place  was  tlie  entii-e  end  of  th(»  house,  and  oui-  hearth 
the  solid  earth. 

My  father  soon  ol^tained  some  hoards  and  made  a 
door  and  temporary  windows.  The  next  tiling  to  he 
done  was  to  chink  the  cracks  between  the  logs.  This 
being  done,  we  dug  up  the  soil  and  wet  it  and  made 
mnd  witli  which  ^^■e  plastered  the  outside  over  the 
chinks,  v.diich  made  our  house  quite  warm  and  eom- 
fortable. 

About  this  time  our  stock  of  provisions  began  to 
get  short,  and  the  entii-e  settlement  was  getting  hai-d 
up  for  something  to  eat  ;  but  as  potatoes  were  about 
lipe  we  had  plenty  of  them,  and  as  we  had  a  cow  we 
lived  quite  well  until  we  could  get  wheat  ground, 
which  at  that  time  was  very  difficult.  Before  our 
wheat  was  hard  enough  to  grind,  our  mother  hulled 
and  boiled  it  and  wc  ate  it  with  milk,  and  we  thought 
it  very  good  eating. 

This  state  of  things  did  not  last  long,  for  my  broth- 
er James  had  a  givat  propensity  for  hunting,  my 
father  having  bought  him  a  gun  ;  he  very  .soon  su])- 
})litHl  us  with  A'enison  which  proved  a  luxury  in  the 
v/ay  of  meat. 

At  length  our  wlicat  ciop  having  matu]*^'d,  a  grist 
for  each  neighbor  was  prei)ared,  and  I  stai-ted  with  an 
ox  team  and  about  twelve  bushels  of  wheat,  which 
with  fodder  for  the  oxeu  by  the  way,  was  about  as 
niucli  as  the  team  could  draw.  I  staid  at  Murray 
Corners,  now  Clarkson,  the  first  night,  and  the  next 
day,  a  little  before  night,  I  got  to  the  mill  at  Roches- 
ter, chained  the  oxen  to  the  wagon  and  fed  them  for 
the  night.  I  slei)t  that  night  on  the  bags  in  the  mill 
until  my  grist  was  ground,  which  was  com2)leted 
about  daylight.     After  feeding  my   team   and   eating 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNT^.  281 

my  venison,  I  started  for  home  and  got  there  about 
sundown  the  third  da}^  out.  The  next  morning,  I 
guess,  all  the  neighbors  had  short  cake  for  breakfast. 

I  will  now  give  a  description  of  what  was  called  an 
Indian  Mill  which  was  used  to  some  extent  by  the 
early  settlers.  We  selected  a  solid  stump  of  a  tree 
in  a  suitable  ^luce  near  the  house,  cut  a  hole  in  the 
top  with  an  axe,  deep  as  we  could,  and  then  ])uilt  a 
fire  in  the  hole  burning  it,  and  putting  in  hot  stones 
until  it  was  sufficiently  deep  for  a  mortar.  We  then 
made  a  pestle  of  hard  wood,  took  a  strip  of  elm  bark 
tied  one  end  to  the  pestle  and  the  other  to  the  top  of 
a  limber  sapling  tree  that  would  l)end  directlj^  over 
the  mortar,  making  a  spring  pole,  which  completed 
the  machine.  Put  a  (piart  of  corn  into  this  mortar, 
and  a  man  could  soon  convert  it  into  samp — coarse 
meal — which  when  well  boiled,  made  xi^vy  good  eat- 
ing in  milk.  The  Indians  used  it  almost  exclusively 
for  bread. 

I  had  never  chopped  down  a  tree  or  cut  off  a  log 
when  I  lirst  came  into  the  forest.  The  next  morning 
after  arriving  in  the  woods,  I  took  an  ax  and  went 
to  where  my'fiither  was  preparing  to  build  his  house, 
and  commenced  chopping  down  a  ti-ee  i^erhaps  six 
inches  through.  I  chopped  all  around  the  tree  till  it 
fell.  When  the  tree  startcnl  to  fall,  I  started  to  run, 
and  if  the  tree  had  not  lodged  on  anothei',  I  know  not 
but  I  should  have  been  killed,  for  I  ran  in  the  same 
direction  the  tree  was  falling.  I  was  so  scared  at  this 
my  first  attempt  at  falling  timber,  that  I  picked  uj) 
my  ax  which  I  had  thrown  away  in  my  fright,  and 
made  tracks  for  th(,'  house,  concluding  to  cho])  no 
more  until  I  had  learned  liow  to  do  it. 

The  first  school  in  the  settlement  was  taught  b\' 
Gurdon  Balcom,  the  next  by  Wesle}'  Randall.  Tlie 
first  minister  of  the  gospel  who  preached  in  this  set- 
tlement was  Elder  Randall,  a   Metliodist   and  a  very 


282  riONEEK   mSTOKY 

good  mail.  Dr.  Theopliilns  Randall  was  the  first 
])liysician. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  I  went  to  Oneida  county,  and 
learned  the  art  of  distilling  wliisk}^,  which  at  tliis 
time  was  a  very  popular  business.  My  mother  died 
Avhile  I  was  there,  which  nearly  broke  uj)  our  home 
<3ircle,  and  which  was  to  me  particularly,  a  cause  of 
great  sorrow. 

I  returned  home  in  June  following  and  found  my 
father' s  family,  as  I  expected,  in  a  very  lonely  con- 
dition. I  went  to  work  with  my  father  and  brothers, 
clearing  land  and  securing  our  crops.  When  that 
was  done,  I  went  back  to  Verona  and  worked  in  a 
distillery  another  winter.  Next  spring  I  returned 
and  worked  in  Whitney's  distillery  in  Rochester,  and 
the  fall  after  I  went  to  Toronto,  in  Canada,  and  erect- 
ed the  first  steam  distillery  ever  erected  in  Canada, 
wliich  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  curiosities  of  the 
age. 

I  worked  thousands  of  bushc^ls  of  tlie  finest  wheat 
I  ever  saw  into  whisky.  The  wheat  was  bought  for 
two  and  six  pence  per  bushel. 

The  next  June  I  returned  liome.  nn^  father  in 
the  meantime  had  married  again  and  moved  to 
Le  Roy,  having  let  out  his  farm  in  Murray.  I  w^orked 
in  Le  Roy  and  Clarendon.  I  became  21  years  old 
October  2r)th,  1822.  T  took  a  job  clearing  land  in 
Le  Roy,  for  wdiicli  I  received  $600.  My  father' s  fam- 
ily and  mj^self  then  moved  back  to  Min-ray,  and  T 
l)aid  up  the  balance  for  his  farm. 

I  married  Anna  Augur,  daughter  of  Felix  Augur, 
of  Murray,  now  Kendall,  Feb.  18,  1824.  Mr.  Augur 
had  come  in  from  Vermont  the  yeiiY  previous,  and 
bought  his  land  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  for  $3.00 
an  acre,  Dr.  Levi  Ward  was  the  land  agent.  Mr. 
Autcur  was   a   soldiei-  in   tho    Rpvolutionary   War^ 


OF  ORLEANS  COUNTY.  283 

Gen,  C.  C.  Aiignr,  now  of  the  United  States  army,  is 
]iis  grandson. 

Tlie  next  spring  after  I  was  married,  I  Ixjught  a 
piece  of  land  in  Clark's  settlement,  wliicli  had  some 
Avork  done  on  it,  and  went  to  keeping  honse  there. 

I  chopped  over  twenty  acres  with  my  own  hands, 
all  but  four  days  help  of  a  man.  I  tlien  sold  out  my 
chance  on  this  lot,  and  bought  fifty  acres  in  another 
place  ;  which  is  a  part  of  ray  present  farm.  It  was 
then  entirel}^  wild,  so  that  I  commenced  again  in  the 
woods. 

I  bought  it  second-lianded,  and  agreed  to  pay  eight 
dollars  per  acre.  I  worked  some  on  my  land,  work- 
ed out  some  by  the  day  and  b}^  the  job  ;  but  as  grain 
brought  but  a  small  price,  I  concluded  that  was  a 
pretty  liard  way  to  get  a  living,  and  built  a  distiller}^ 
near  my  farm.  At  this  time  settlers  had  come  in  in 
mimbers.  Grain  was  raised  in  plenty,  with  no  cash 
market  for  it.  Money  was  scarce,  and  the  little  we 
had  was  what  we  received  for  ashes.  AVe  cut  and 
burned  our  timber  and  made  hla/^li  ^altn  from  the 
ashes,  which  brought  cash.  I  have  carried  ashes  on 
my  back  to  market,  until  my  shoulders  were  blister- 
ed, to  get  a  little  money  to  buy  necessaries  for  my 
^amil3^  I  built  my  distillery  because  grain  was 
plenty  and  cheap.  I  could  distill  it,  take  it  to  mar- 
lc(^t  at  Ro(^hester  and  sell  it  for  cash,  at  a  good  ^irofit 
to  me  and  to  the  settler,  who  sold  me  his  grain,  which 
lie  could  not  take  to  another  market  and  make  as 
much  from  it  ;■  and  he  could  raise  grain  easier  than 
lie  could  make  and  market  black  salts. 

I  sold  my  distillery  in  bS8(),  and  determined  to 
make  farming  the  lousiness  of  my  life  after  that. 

The  year  1828  is  well  rememben^d  and  distinguish- 
ed, as  being  '  the  sickly  season,'  through  this  country. 
Th(^  sickness  began  in  July,  and  in  August  there  wen^ 
not  well  persons  enough  in  town  to  tak<M'are  of  the 


284  .  PIONEER   HISTOIiY 

yick.  And  in  this  neigliborliood  tliere  was  but  one 
well  man,  Amnion  Augur,  and  not  one  well  woman, 
that  could  get  out  of  the  house.  Many  families  suf- 
fered much  for  lack  of  liel}).  My  family  was  all  sick. 
One  day  Dr.  Robert  Nichoson  was  the  only  person 
who  entered  my  house.  He  calh^d,  prepared  our 
medicine  and  left  it  at  the  head  of  our  beds,  and  went 
on  to  other  scenes  of  sufiering.  That  was  the  most 
gloomy  day  I  ever  saw.  My  wife  crept  from  her  bed 
to  mine,  holding  up  by  the  door  post,  to  see  if  I  was 
alive,  and  then  got  back  to  lier  bed,  wliere  lay  our 
little  daughter,  equally  helpless.  AVe  all  spent  a 
dreary  niglit.  M}^  hired  man  was  down  sick  at  the 
same  time.  The  next  day  we  got  hel]).  The  3*ears 
1826  and  1827  were  also  sickly  j^ears.  I  could  give 
many  cases  of  suffering  in  those  times,  but  amid  it  all 
we  had  our  pleasures,  for  we  \Aere  all  brethren  and 
loved  one  anotlu^]-. 

ROBERT  CLARK." 
Kendall,  March,  1S04. 

SAMUKI.   HATES 

Was  the  hrst  wliite  man  wlio  settled  in  what  is  now 
Kendall.  He  was  born  in  Haddam,  Conn.,  Aug.  9, 
1760.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
during  the  last  three  and  a  half  years  of  its  continu- 
ance, serving  in  a  New  Hampshire  regiment.  He  win- 
tered with  Gen.  Washington  at  A'alley  Forge,  and 
participated  in  several  ini])ortant  ])attlcs.  He  served 
under  rien.  Sullivan  in  his  memorable  expedition 
against  the  Indians  iji  Western  New  York.  He  had 
a  fondness  for  militar}'  life  and  service  ;  a  trait  of 
character  transmitted  to  his  d(\scendants,  and  honor- 
ably exemplilied  in  his  grandson,  Lieut,  (yol.  Willard 
W.  Bates,  who  was  killed  while  leading  his  regiment, 
the  8tli  Heavy  Artillery,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  in  a  blood}' 
battle  before  P(>te]-sbu)'g,  \'a.,  in  the  wai"  of  the  Re- 
bellion. 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  285 

From  what  ^f  r.  Bates  saw  while  with  Gen.  Sullivan 
lie  early  formed  a  desire  to  settle  in  the  Genesee  coun- 
try, a  wish  he  was  afterwards  enabled  to  gratif}^ 

After  leaving  the  army,  Mr.  Samuel  Bates  resided 
several  years  in  Randoljih,  Vt.,  removing  from  thence 
to  Burlington,  Yt.  Leaving  his  family  in  Burlington, 
he  came  to  Kendall,  and  took  up  lot  111,  town  4,  of 
the  100,000  acre  tract,  having  the  land  'booked'  to 
him,  as  they  called  it,  that  is,  having  the  agent  of  the 
State  of  Conn,  note  on  his  books  that  he  had  gone  in- 
to possession,  with  a  view  of  securing  his  right  to  the 
land  when  it  slx)uld  come  in  market  for  sale.  Of  this 
land,  in  due  time  he  got  a  title  and  it  is  now  ()v>'ned 
by  his  son,  Capt.  H.  W.  Bates. 

The  lirst  year  he  was  in  Kendall,  lie  cleared  sever- 
al acres  of  land  in  the  summer  of  1813,  he  sowed  two 
acres  to  wheat,  built  a  log  cabin,  and  returned  to 
Burlington  after  his  family,  and  brought  them  to 
Kendall  in  June  1814.  His  eldest  son,  Capt.  H.  W. 
Bates,  then  about  twenty-one  3-ears  old,  accompanied 
him. 

On  arriving  at  his  new  log  house  he  found  hife  wheat 
held  in  full  head,  looking  fine.  The  crop  so  raised 
furnishing  bread  for  th<^  family  the  next  year. 

Mr.  Bates  and  his  family,  coming  as  they  did  from 
the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont,  suffered  severly 
from  fever  and  ague,  some  of  the  first  years  after  they 
came  to  Kendall.  They  Avere  all  sick,  Mr.  Bates  himself 
never  fully  recovering  from  his  acclimating  fever.  He 
died  August  21,  1822. 

AMOS    KANDALL. 

Amos  Randall  was  born  in  Ashburnham,  Mass. 
January  3,  1788.  He  married  Fanny  Tabor  in  1814. 
She  was  born  in  Shelburne,  Vt.,  Feb.  11,  1793. 

In  1814,  they  removed  to  Avon,  and  in  the  spring  of 


"iSQ  PIONEER   IIISTOHY 

1815,  settled  in  Kendall,  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
hy  his  son,  Hon.  Gideon  Randall,  where  he  after- 
wards resided,  and  died  Aug.  28,  1830.  Mr.  Randall 
was  a  public  spirited  man,  and  entered  zealously 
into  every  undertaking  for  the  benefit  of  his  neighbor- 
hood. He  acted  frequentl}^  as  counselor  and  arbitra- 
tor among  the  settlers,  to  aid  in  arranging  business 
matters,  in  which  his  neighbors  needed  such  help. 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  on  his  land  where 
the  stone  school  house  now  stands. 

The  first  cemetery  in  town  was  located  on  his  farm 
and  the  first  burials  of  the  dead  were  there. 

He  was  a  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Murray  before 
the  count}^  of  Oileans  was  organized,  or  Murray  had 
been  divided  into  the  several  towns  which  now  include 
its  original  territor}^  He  left  six  children,  viz : 
Charles  T.,  Gideon,  who  resides  on  his  paternal  home- 
stead, Dr.  James  W.  now  a  practicing  physician  in 
Albion,  Fanny  E.  wife  of  O.  M.  Green,  George  W. 
and  Amos  S. 

DAVID    JOXES. 

David  Jones  was  born  in  Pembi'okeshire  in  ^^^ales, 
July  17,  1792.  He  removed  to  America  with  his 
lather' s  ftimily  in  the  year  1801.  His  father  settled 
in  New  Jersey  and  his  son  David  i-emained  with  him 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  then  came  to  Ontario 
county,  New  York,  where  he  resided  four  3'ears,  and 
then  settled  in  Kendall  in  1815. 

He  married  Miss  Catharine  AVhitney  February  24, 
1824.  Their  childnai  are  Claudius,  who  married 
Harriet  Weed  and  resides  in  Illinois  ;  Thomas,  un- 
married ;  Almiretta  S.  J.  married  C.  G.  Root ;  Seth 
married  Sylvia  Shelly  ;  Cynthia  Ann  married  James 
R.  Whitney,  and  David  who  married  Lucy  A.  Chase 
all  of  whom  reside  in  Kendall, 

Mr.  Jones  was  j)oor  when  he  settled  in  Kendall  and 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  287 

Doiight  liis  land  on  credit.  He  was  a  large  strong- 
man able  and  willing  to  labor.  He  cleared  and  im- 
proved a  large  farm  and  became  a  wealthy  man. 

Sickness  in  liis  famih'  and  the  want  of  a  market 
for  farm  prodnce  made  it  very  difficult  for  him  to  ob- 
tain means  to  pay  for  his  land  improvements  for  some 
years  at  first.  He  said  he  agreed  to  pay  four  hundred 
dollars  for  his  first  hundred  acres,  and  it  was  fifteen 
years  before  it  was  all  paid. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  native  intellect  and  of 
sound  judgment  in  matters  that  come  within  his  ob- 
seiTatiou  or  experience,  but  he  never  had  the  lu'nefit 
of  much  instruction  in  school. 

He  died  January  2i\  I860. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


r 


TOWN   OF  MURRAY. 

Towns  Set  Off— First  Tavern— First  Marriage  —  First  Birth  — First 
Death— First  Store— First  Grist  Mill— First  School— First  Church 
— Sandy  Creek — McCall  &  Perry's  Mill — Sickness  at  Sandy  Creek 
— Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 

LARGE  part  of  the  western  portion  of  Monroe 
?ounty  was  at  lirst  incorporated  by  the  Leg- 
islature in  March  1802,  as  Northampton. 
The  town  of  Murray  was  formed  from  Northampton  in 
June,  1812.  It  received  its  name  in  honor  of  John 
ALurray,  a  merchant  of  tlie  city  of  New  York,  who 
was  a  large  proprietor. 

Murray,  at  its  formation,  included  what  now  com- 
prises the  town  of  Murra}^,  Kendall,  Clarendon,  Union 
or  Hamlin,  Clarkson  and  Sweden, 

Sweden,  which  included  Clarendon,  was  formed 
from  Murray  in  1813,  and  Clarkson,  which  included 
Hamlin,  in  1819. 

Kendall  was  set  off  in  1837,  leaving  the  town  of 
Murray  of  its  present  dimensions. 

The  lirst  inn  was  kept  in  1809,  by  Epaphras  Mat- 
tison. 

Messrs.  Wait,  Wright,  Sisson,  Earnsworth,  and 
Rockwood,  were  among  the  earliest  settlers. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Solomon  C.  Wright 
and  Tryjjhena  Farnsworth. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  Betsey  Mattison. 

The  first  store  was  at  Sandy  Creek,  by  Isaac 
Leach,  in  1815. 


OF    ORLEANS    COUNTY.  289 

The  first  gristmill  was  lyuilt  hy  Pcny  and  Luce 
in  1817. 

The  first  school  was  kept  l)y  Fanny  Ferguson,  in 
1814. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  tlie  old  town  of  ISInrray, 
before  it  was  divided,  was  held  in  the  harn  of  John- 
son Bedell,  about  foui*  miles  south  of  Brockport. 

The  first  ehurcli  formed  in  this  town  was  the  Con- 
gregational hy  Rev.  John  E.  Bliss,  Jani\ary  oth, 
1819. 

The  first  settlements  in  what  is  now  included  in  the 
town  of  Murray  were  made  on  the  Ridge  at  and  near 
Sandy  Creek. 

Epaphras  Mattison  first  settled  here  in  1809.  In  the 
year  1817,  some  fifteen  or  tAventy  famili(^^  had  located 
at  Sand}^  Creek,  and  in  thai  yi^av  Jhmvy  McCall  and 
Robert  Perry  built  mills  on  the  creek,  iht^ir  dam 
raising  the  water  so  as  to  overfiow  (nghtcen  or  twenty 
acres  then  ('overed  with  heavy  trees,  whic^li  were  left 
standing.  The  water  killed  the  timbtn-,  and  a  terrible 
sickness  followed  among  the  inhabitants,  about  one- 
quarter  of  whom  died  in  out^  season.  'I'lie  well  pei- 
sons  were  not  numerous  enough  to  take  care  of  the 
sick  and  buiy^  the  dead,  and  settlers  from  other  neigh- 
borhoods came  there  and  helped  the  needy  ones. 
The  mill  dam  was  taken  down  and  the  sickness  dis- 
appeared. 

Mr.  Andrew  11.  Green,  of  Byron,  Generft^^  county, 
relates  that  several  families  were  settled  at  Sandy 
Creek,  in  1811.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  settlers  in 
Byron  heard  that  these  2)eo])le  at  Sandy  Crtn^k  were 
nearly  all  sick  and  in  great  suffering,  and  tliey  made 
up  a  company  of  six  or  eight  and  went  over  to  help 
them,  carrying  a  load  of  necessaries.  Mr.  Green 
says  :  "  I  never  saw  so  helpless  a  company."  Sandy 
Creek  was  regarded  as  an  unhealthy  location  for 
19 


S;90  PIONEKK    IIISTOJIY 

some  years  after  its  iirst  settlement,  occasioned  in 
great  part  by  building  mills  there  in  the  woods. 

The  first  settlements  in  what  is  now  Murray  were 
made  along  the  Ridge  Road.  Mills  having  been  built 
in  early  times  on  Sandy  Creek,  near  where  that  stream 
crosses  the  Ridge,  mechanics  and  business  men  loca- 
ted there,  and  at  the  time  the  Erie  Canal  was  first 
navigable  here  was  a  livel}"  village  known  as  Sandy 
Creek,  a  name  by  which  it  has  ever  since  been  dis- 
tinguished. 

The  first  post  oflice  in  town  was  established  here, 
called  Murray. 

Though  the  2:)eople  sufiered  terribly  from  sickness 
about  the  time  mill  dams  were  first  built  in  the 
Creek  here,  and  while  neighboring  lands  were  being 
opened  to  cultivation,  yet  Sandy  Creek  was  the  prin- 
cipal place  of  business  in  the  town  until  Holley  and 
Hulberton,  on  the  canal,  were  settled  and  gradually 
drew  away  most  of  the  trade  and  business  to  these 
new  villages. 


BIOGRAPHIES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

HAKLEY    N.    BUSIIXELL. 

Harley  N.  Bushnell  was  born  in  Starksborough,  Vt., 
the  youngest  of  thirteen  children  in  his  father's  fami- 
ly, Feb.  i8th,  1796.  When  he  was  fifteen  years  old 
he  went  to  Connecticut  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier 
of  his  brother.  He  served  as  an  apprentice  in  that 
business  five  years,  and  received  thirty  days  school- 
ing in  the  time.  In  February,  1817,  he  came  to  Ba- 
tavia,  Genesee  county,  and  went  to  work  at  his  trade. 
In  August  afterwards  his  employer  ran  aAvay,  owing- 
Mr.  Bushnell  one  hundred  dollars,  and  the  Sheriff" 
came  and  seized  all  his  employer' s  property,  turning 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  291 

Buslmell  out  of  business.  He  finally  bought  the  es- 
tablishment and  run  it  on  liis  own  account,  and  with 
a  partner  ;  but  in  the  end  found  it  a  losing  business. 
After  a  time  he  gave  up  his  trade  and  was  elected 
constable.  In  this  business  he  was  not  successful  in 
laying  up  money,  and  in  the  end  found  himself  about 
even  with  the  world. 

He  did  some  business  as  a  justice,  and  labored 
some  at  his  trade  until  February,  1823,  he  removed 
to  Holley,  north  of  where  the  canal  now  is,  Vrdiich  was 
then  covered  with  felled  timber,  not  cleared  off; 
bought  two  acres  of  ground  and  leased  tvv'o  acres 
more  for  a  mill  pond.  He  commenced  getting  out 
timber  for  a  house  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet 
square,  hewing  and  framing  it  at  the  stump.  There 
was  considerable  snow  on  the  ground,  and  on  the 
snow  crust  mornings,  he  drew  all  the  timber  for  liis 
house  to  the  spot  with  a  yoj)L'  over  his  shoulder.  Af- 
ter getting  his  famil}'  settled  in  his  new  house,  he 
cleared  otf  part  of  his  land,  and  with  the  help  of  his 
neighbors  atone  or  two  "  bees,"  he  built  a  log  dam. 
got  out  timber  and  built  a  sawmill,  and  began  sawing 
about  May  1st,  1824.  In  1825,  in  comjDany  with 
Samuel  Clark  he  built  works  for  wool  carding  and 
cloth  dressing  at  Holley. 

In  October,  1826,  his  house  burned  with  all  its  con- 
tents. In  two  weeks  he  had  another  house  up.  In 
June,  1828,  he  bought  the  interest  of  his  partner  in 
the  wool  carding  and  cloth  dressing  works,  which  he 
carried  on  alone  until  1833,  when  he  sold  out  and 
bought  a  farm.  After  a  few  years  he  sold  his  farm, 
moved  to  Holley,  and  ever  after  did  business  as  an 
insurance  agent. 

For  many  years  he  was  Superintendent  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Sunday  School  in  Hollej'. 

He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Orleans  Count}' 
Pioneer  xissociatiou,  and  many  years  its  President. 


292  PIONKKi:   HISTORY 

He  was  a  kind  ]ieart<xl,  genial  man,  benevolent  and 
])liilanthropit*,  earnest  and  zealous  in  sHj^port  of 
every  good  cause,  and  died  lamented  by  all  who 
knew  him,  October  28th,  1868. 

ARETAS     PIEKCE. 

Aretas  Pierce  was  born  in  St.  Johnsbury,  Vermont 
March  27th,  1799.  He  came  with  his  father's  family 
to  settle  in  Clarendon,  where  he  arrived  April  7th, 
1815.  Tlie  family  moved  into  a  house  built  for  a 
school  house,  until  they  could  build  a  house  for 
themselves. 

They  built  a  house  and  moved  into  it  April  24tli, 
1815.  The  first  year  they  lived  on  provisions  they 
brought  in  with  them.  Tlie  next  year  being  the  cold 
season,  they  bought  r^'e  at  one  dollar  and  twenty -five 
cents  a  bushel,  and  pork  at  twenty-five  dollars  a  bar- 
ivl,  in  Palmyra.  The  next  j'ear  the}^  were  out  of 
l)read  stuif  before  harvest,  and  ate  green  wheat  boiled 
in  milk  as  a  substitute,  and  what  is  strange  none  of 
tlie  family  had  dyspepsia  ! 

He  married  Matilda  Stedman,  May  8th,  1823,  and 
has  always  resided  on  the  lot  originally  taken  by  his 
father. 

When  his  fatiier  came  in  it  was  an  unbroken  wil- 
derness on  the  west,  from  his  place  to  the  Oak  Or- 
chard Road,  eight  miles  ;  north  to  Sandy  Creek,  four 
miles:  east  two  miles;  south  to  Farwell's  Mills. 
Eldridge  Farwell,  A.  Dudley,  John  Cone,  Wm.  Aus- 
tin and  Mr.  West,  had  settled  in  Clarendon,  and 
other  settlers  towards  Sandy  Creek  came  in  the  same 
year  witli  Mr.  Pierce.     A  few  came  before  them. 

In  the  years  1 817-18,  the  inhabitants  in  this  settle- 
ment suffered  for  want  of  food. 

Samuel  ISIiller  worked  for  Artemas  Daggett  chop- 
ping wood  for  one  dollar  a  day  and  board  himself.. 
All  he  had  to  eat,  most  of  the  time,  was  com  meal 


OF   OKLEANS    COUNTY.  29o 

and  water;  l>ut  lie  did  not  complain  or  tell  ol"  it 
then. 

Ebeuezer  Fox  settled  a  mile  and  a  half  east  ol" 
Murray  depot,  and  all  they  had  to  eat  for  a  number 
of  weeks  was  what  they  could  pick  up  in  the  woods. 
The  best  they  could  find  was  the  inner  bark  of  the 
beech  tree. 

Mrs.  Fox  had  a  young  babe,  and  her  next  oldest 
child  was  in  feeble  health,  and  she  had  to  nurse  tliem 
both  to  keep  them  from  starving. 

Almost  all  the  money  the  settlers  had  was  obtained 
by  leaching  ashes  and  boiling  the  lye  to  black  salts, 
and  taking  these  to  Gaines  or  Clarkson  and  selling 
them  for  about  three  dollars  a  liundred  pounds. 

After  1818  the  country  tilled  up  rapidly  with  set- 
tlers and  more  produce  began  to  be  raised  than  was 
wanted  for  home  consumption.  The  price  of  wheat 
fell  to  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel,  and  onl}'  tliirt}-one 
cents  after  hauling  to  Rochester,  and  so  remained  nn- 
til  the  Erie  Canal  was  opened. 

Mr.  Pierce  settled  on  lands  owned  1)}'  tht^  l^ultne^' 
estate,  and  these  did  not  come  into  market  for  sale 
until  1821,  though  settlers  were  allowed  to  locate 
themselves  with  the  expectafion  of  buying  their  land 
when  it  came  into  market.  The  ])rice  of  his  lot  was 
fixed  at  eight  dollars  per  acre,  but  having  expended 
so  much  in  building  and  clearing,  he  was  compelled 
to  pay  the  price  or  suffei'  loss  by  alniiidoning  all  he 
had  done. 

Tlie  reason  given  by  the  conij)any  for  not  bringing 
their  lands  into  market  was,  they  liad  ''  so  miu-li  bus- 
iness on  hand  they  could  not  attend  to  it,"  but  the 
settlers  thought  they  were  waiting  to  have  the  canal 
located  before  establishing  their  price. 

iri'nHAIM)    IMCK. 

Hubbard  Rice  was  born  in  Pompey,  Onondaga  coun- 


294  PION^EER  HISTORY 

ty,  July  28tli,  1795.  He  removed  with  his  father  to 
the  town  of  Murray,  and  settled  on  a  lot  adjoining 
the  Tillage  of  Holley,  in  May  1812.  His  father,  Mr. 
William  Rice,  continued  to  reside  on  this  place  until 
about  the  year  1830,  he  went  to  Ohio  to  reside  with 
his  children,  and  died  there. 

Hubbard  Rice  lived  with  his  father  until  1825,  then 
he  moved  to  the  south  part  of  Clarendon,  where  he 
remained  until  he  removed  to  Holley  in  1864,  where 
he  still  resides,  1871. 

After  Lewiston  was  burned  in  the  late  war  with 
England,  Mr.  Hubbard  Rice,  then  a  boy  of  eighteen 
years,  volunteered  as  a  soldier  and  served  a  campaign 
on  the  Niagara  Frontier. 

Coming  to  Holley  when  a  boy,  he  grew  up  to  man- 
hood there,  seeing  and  sharing  in  all  the  toils,  dan- 
gers, hardships  and  privations  which  the  settlers  en- 
dured. 

He  has  been  spared  to  a  lipe  old  age  to  witness  the 
founding,  growtli  and  development  of  a  beautiful  vil- 
lage on  a  spot  he  has  seen  when  it  w^as  a  native  forest 
covered  with  mighty  hemlocks,  through  which  now 
by  canal,  railroad  and  telegraph,  the  commerce  and 
intelligence  of  the  world  are  flowing. 

('II AIT]\UE Y    R< )IU XSON . 

Chauncey  Robinson  was  born  in  Durham,  Connect- 
icut, January  5th,  1792.  When  he  was  two  years 
old  he  was  carried  with  his  father's  family  to  Sauquoit, 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  where,  to  use  his  own  words, 
''  I  was  educated  in  a  district  school,  and  graduated, 
at  twelve  years  of  age,  between  the  plow  han- 
dles." 

He  removed  to  Clarendon,  Orleans  county,  and  set- 
tled about  two  miles  south  of  Farwell's  Mills,  July 
1813;  cleared  a  farm  and  carried  it  on  until  May,  1851, 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  295 

he  removed  to  Holley,  where  lie  resided  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  ]\Iay  8th,  1866. 

In  the  war  with  England  in  1814,  he  was  called  out 
Avith  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  frontier  generally  to 
aid  in  repelling  the  British  who  were  then  besieging 
Fort  Erie. 

He  was  several  months  in  this  service  ;  was  in  the 
battle  and  sortie  at  Fort  Erie,  Septembei"  17th,  1814, 
whicli  was  the  last  battle  of  tln^  war  fought  on  this 
frontier. 

A^ery  few  families  had  located  in  Clarendon  when 
Mr.  Robinson  went  thci-c.  IL*  began  in  the  woods, 
built  a  log  house,  and  all  its  fixtures,  furniture  and 
surroundings,  wer(^  in  tlx'  primitive  st^de  of  those 
times. 

He  was  a  man  of  ardent  temperament,  a  lluent  and 
earnest  talker  in  private  conversation  or  public  de- 
bate, noted  for  liis  intense  hatred  of  slavery  and  op- 
pression, and  his  love  of  freedom  and  free  govern- 
ment, and  for  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  temperance. 
Upon  this  and  kindred  topics  he  frequently  wrote  ar- 
ticles for  the  newspapers. 

He  was  an  active  man  in  organizing  the  town  of 
Clarendon,  laying  out  and  opening  highways,  and  loca- 
ting school  districts,  frequently  holding  public  office 
as  the  gift  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  was  Supervisor 
of  Clarendon  four  years  in  succession.  He  was  an 
oi'iginal  and  free  thinker  on  those  subjects  of  public 
policy  which  excited  his  attention,  enforcing  his  doc- 
trines with  a  y.oii]  which  some  of  his  opponents  thought 
fanatical. 

In  his  personal  habits  he  was  industrious,  frugal 
and  temperate.  When  ho  was  an  old  man  hi^  said  : 
"I  have  never  used  one  pound  of  tea,  coffee,  or  to- 
bacco, and  comparativcl}^  little  liquor  ;  none  for  the 
last  thirty  yeai's;  not  even  cide]-.  My  constant  drink 
at  liome  and  abroad  is  cold  water." 


296  PIONKEK    IirsTOKY 

Hiram  Frisbie  was  Lorn  in  (Iranville,  N.  Y..  Aug., 
1791.  lie  lirst  came  to  Orleans  county  with  a  view  of 
taking  the  job  of  buikling  the  embankm(^nt  for  the 
Ei'ie  Canal,  at  lioUey.  Failing  in  this  he  went  witli 
his  brother-in-law,  William  Pierpont,  to  Farwell's 
Mills  in  the  town  of  Clai-endon,  and  0})ened  a  store 
there  in  1821.  They  sold  goods  and  made  pot  and 
pearl,  ashes  there.  Pier})ont  also  keeping  tavern  seve- 
ral years,  when  Pierpont  sold  out  the  whole  business 
to  Mr.  Frisbie,  who  maiuig^d  it  ail  alone  several 
years,  until  tlit'  insolvency  of  some  leading  merchants 
in  Holley  made  an  o|)ening  for  his  business  there, 
he  then  closed  out  i?i  Clarendon  and  moved  to  lioUey 
to  reside  about  the  year  1828  or  1829. 

In  connexion  with  Mr.  James  Seymour  of  Clarkson, 
he  bought:  all  the  unsold  land  in  lIolhT,  of  a  one 
Imndred  acre  tract,  which  had  been  taken  up  origi- 
nally by  Mr.  Areo\ester  Hamlin. 

xVt  Holley  he  sold  goods  as  a  mei'chant,  built  hous- 
es, sold  village  lots,  bought  produce,  opened  streets, 
and  became  wealthy  from  the  rise  in  ]>i'ice  of  liis 
lands  and  the  profits  of  his  trade. 

He  was  appointed  postmaster  soon  at'ttM-  1h^  came 
to  Holley,  an  office  he  held  fifteen  years. 

Some  years  ago  he  was  thrown  from  his  carriage 
while  driving  some  high  spirited  horses,  several  of  his 
bones  broken,  and  was  so  badly  injured  as  to  r^nider 
iiim  incapa,ble  of  active  bodily  lal)orj  as  ]>efor('.  He 
still  resides  in  Holley,  one  of  the  few  old  men  yet  re- 
maining who  settled  here  before  the  canal  was  made, 
enjoying  in  ipiiet  tiie  avails  of  a  long  life  of  busy  in- 
dustiy  and  sagacious  investment. 

.lACOI!    HINOS. 

.lac(;b  Hinds  was    l.)i)rn   in    llv   town  of  Arlington, 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  297 

Benniugton  county,  Yt.  He  settled  in  the.  town  of 
Murray  in  1829,  and  bought  a  farm  wliich  liad  been 
taken  up  by  article  from  the  State  of  Connecti(;ut  b}^ 
Jared  Luttenton. 

The  Erie  Canal  passes  through  this  farm.  Boating 
on  the  canal  was  then  brisk,  and  no  station  between 
Albion  and  Hulberton  was  established  at  which  boat- 
men could  get  their  supplies. 

Mr.  Hinds  built  a  grocer}^  store  and  began  tliat 
business. 

It  was  a  good  location  from  which  to  ship  wheat, 
which  began  to  be  produced  in  considerable  quanti- 
ties, and  Mr.  Hinds  built  a  warehouse  in  1830. 
About  this  time  his  brothers  Joel,  Darius,  and  Frank- 
lin, came  on  and  joined  him  in  business,  and  being- 
active,  energetic  business  men,  a  little  settlement 
sprang  up  around  them,  which  was  named  Hinds- 
burgh. 

Jacob  Hinds  had  been  engaged  in  boating  on  the 
canal  and  became  acquainted  with  the  canal  and  its 
boatmen  and  men  engaged  in  trafic  through  it;  in  1830 
he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  Repairs  on  tht- 
western  section,  an  office  he  held  three  years. 

After  an  interval  of  ten  years,  in  1849  he  was  elec- 
ted one  of  the  State  Canal  Commissioneis  and  served 
three  yeai-s  in  that  capacit}', 

Sinc(^  retiring  frcmi  these  offices,  Mr.  Hinds  has 
followed  farming  as  his  principal  occupatioii. 

ATSTIN     DAY. 

Austin  Hay  was  born  in  W^inhall,  \'ermont,  .Vpril 
lOth,  1789. 

He  marri(Hl  Polly  Chapman,  July  23d,  1810.  He 
moved  to  the  town  of  Murrav  in  the  winter  of 
1815. 

For  some  years  after  he  came  to  Murray  lie  served 
as  a  constabl(\  and  being  a  go(jd  talker  he   ])racticed 


298  PIONEER  HISTORY 

pettifogging,  or  acted  as  counsel  in  Justice's  courts, 
and  for  a  number  of  years,  and  until  professional 
lawyers  came  in,  he  did  a  large  business. 

After  tlie  Erie  Canal  was  made  navigable  he  en- 
gaged in  buying  wheat,  which  he  followed  some 
years,  shipping  large  quantities  chiefly  from  Holley. 

He  was  appointed  Judge  in  the  Old  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  of  Orleans  count}',  an  office  lie  held  five 
years. 

He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Orleans  county  in  No- 
vember, 1847,  nnd  held  the  office  three  j^ears.  In 
Januar}',  1848,  he  removed  to  Albion,  where  until 
within  a  few  years  he  lias  resided.  He  was  Supervi- 
sor of  Barre  in  1852. 

Bis  wife  died  October  15th,  1858,  which  broke  up 
his  family,  and  since  then  he  has  resided  in  the  fami- 
ly of  his  son,  F.  A.  Day,  in  Albion,  and  lately  with 
his  daughter,  Mi's.  Buell,  in  Holle}',  relievfHl  from  the 
cares  and  anxieties  of  business. 

ELT.TAH    AV.    WOOD. 

Elijah  W.  AVood  was  born  in  Pelham,  Mass., 
April  22d,  1782.  He  removed  to  the  town  of  Murray 
at  an  early  day,  where  for  many  years  he  served  as 
Constable  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  during  one 
term  of  five  years  he  was  Judge  in  the  Old  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  of  Orleans  count}'. 

He  was  a  shrewd  and  successful  pettifogger  in  jus- 
tices' courts,  where  he  made  u])  in  wit  and  natural 
sagacity  any  lack  hv  may  have  suft'ered  in  legal  at- 
tainments. He  died  in  Murray  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years. 

KKCOLLECTIOXS    OF    MRS.    SALIA'    SMITH. 

"I  was  born  in  St.  Johnsbury,  Vermont,  in  1795. 
My  father  nnnoved  with  his  family,  including  myself, 


OF  ORLEANS  COUNTY.  299 

to  Leroy,  New  York,  in  1816.  We  were  twenty-one 
days  on  the  journey. 

I  came  to  Murray  in  1817,  and  taught  school  in 
district  No.  8,  in  a  log  house  in  which  a  family  re- 
sided at  the  time.  My  wages  was  nine  shillings  a 
week  and  boarded  among  my  patrons.  I  taught 
eight  months  during  which  time  I  was  happy  and 
fared  well. 

While  I  was  boarding  at  the  house  of  David  Gould, 
in  the  winter  time,  his  stock  of  fodder  for  his  cattle 
gave  out  and  he  was  obliged  to  feed  them  with 
'browse,'  and  to  save  them  from  starving  on  such 
fare  he  went  to  Victor,  Ontario  County,  and  bought  a 
load  of  corn  for  his  cattle.  His  brother-in-law  brought 
the  corn  to  Murray  on  a  sleigh  with  two  horses, 
and  arrived  at  Mr.  Gould's  house  late  in  the  evening 
of  a  cold  and  stormy  night. 

There  was  no  stable  nearer  than  Sand}'  Creek,  three 
miles,  where  the  horses  could  be  sheltered.  Mr. 
Gould's  house  had  but  one  room,  but  it  was  conclud- 
ed to  keep  the  hoi'ses  there  over  night.  Mr.  Gould 
and  wife  occupied  a  bed  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  two 
girls  and  myself  liad  our  bed  with  its  foot  at  the  side 
of  Mr.  Gould's  bed,  and  the  hoi-ses  stood  in  the  other 
corner  and  ate  their  corn,  and  thus  w(^  all  slept  that 
night  as  we  could. 

I  married  Artemas  Daggett,  February  14th,  1819, 
and  commenced  house-keeping  on  the  farm  where  I 
now  reside,  September,  1870. 

Mr.  Daggett  died  in  1831  and  left  me  with  three 
small  children  and  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  owing 
about  nine  hundred  dollars.  In  two  years  I  raised 
the  money  and  paid  our  debts  and  took  a  deed  of  the 
land. 

About  this  tim«^  I  married  Isaac  Smith,  with  whom 
I  lived  in  peace  and  plenty  until  his  death  in  Au- 
gust, 186G. 


oOO  PIONEER  HISTORY 

During  a  great  sickness  at  Sandy  Creek,  Mr.  Brace, 
liis  wife,  and  six  children  resided  there.  One  of  liis 
daughters  fell  sick  and  went  to  the  house  of  a  doc- 
tress  in  town  to  be  treated.  Others  of  the  children 
were  taken  ill.  Mr.  Brace  was  notified  that  his 
daughter  under  the  doctress'  care  was  much  worse 
and  he  went  to  see  her.  She  died  and  he  was  taken 
down  sick  and  could  not  go  home.  In  the  mean 
time  a  son  at  home  died.  Mrs.  Brace  had  taken  sole 
care  of  him  in  his  sickness,  and  while  watching  his 
corpse  the  dead  body  of  Mr.  Brace  was  brought 
home  and  fatlier  and  son  buried  at  the  same  time. 
The  other  sick  ones  recovered. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Aretas  Pierce,  Sr.,  who  lived  foui* 
miles  away,  came  and  found  the  Brace  fanuly  misera- 
bly poor,  and  destitute  of  all  the  comforts  and  most 
( >f  the  necessaries  of  life.  He  went  about  and  got  a 
contribution,  and  next  da}'  the  pressing  wants  of  the 
family  were  sup})lied  b}'  the  benevolent  settlei'S 
around. 

SALLY  SMITH." 
Murr,i\-,  Se{neinbi;r,  18TU. 

A  I, ANSON     UAN'Sl  lEIJ). 

Alanson  ManstieUl  was  bom  in  N'tMiuont,  Marcli 
t)th,  179::^. 

With  an  ax  which  constituted  his  whole  i)ersonal  es- 
tate, lie  came  into  tlie  town  of  Murra}'  in  the  yeai- 
1814,  and  hired  out  to  woi'k,  clio})ping  until  he  earned 
enough  to  take  an  article  of  lot  number  two  hundred 
and  nineteen,  a  little  north  of  llindsburgh.  He  then 
ivturiK-d  to  A'ermonl  to  ])ring  his  father's  family  to 
settle  (m  his  laiid.  They  started  from  Vermont,  his 
father  and  mother  and  six  children,  Alanson  be- 
ing  oldest  of  the  children, — with  a  p-air  of  horsep 
and  a  sleigli,  in  which  was  a  barrel  of  pork 
and  somt*  meal,  a  few  household  noods  and  the  fami- 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  301 

ly.  A  milch  cow  was  led  behind.  The  pork  and 
meal  and  milk  of  the  cow  supplied  most  of  their  pro- 
visions on  the  road,  and  helped  sustain  them  after 
arriving  in  Murray,  until  they  could  otherwise  be 
supplied. 

They  arrived  in  the  winter  of  1815,  put  iqi  a  log 
house  for  a  dM'elling,  and  began  clearing  the  timber 
from  a  piece  of  land,  and  the  iirst  season  planted 
the  corn  from  four  ears  among  the  logs,  from  which 
they  raised  a  good  crop. 

He  married  Polly  Hart,  in  Murra}^,  October  14th. 
1817.  Her  father  settled  near  where  Murray  depot 
now  stands,  in  1816. 

He  united  with  the  Baptist  church  in  Holley,  in 
1831.  The  next  year  the  Gaines  and  Murray  Baptist 
church  on  the  Transit  was  fonned,  and  Mr.  Mansfield 
united  with  tliem  and  was  chosen  deacon.  He  was  a 
worthy,  honored  and  good  man,  and  died  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  September  30th,  1850. 

ABXEK    nALCOM. 

Abner  Balcom  Avas  born  in  Richlield,  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  September  15,  1796,  and  brought  up  in  Hope- 
well, Ontario  county. 

He  married  Ruth  Williams,  of  Hopewell,  March, 
1816.     She  died  in  March,  1822. 

In  the  fall  of  1822,  he  married  Philotheta  Baker. 
She  died  February  7th,  1865,  and  for  his  tliird  wife 
he  married  Mrs.  Philena  Waring. 

In  the  fall  of  1812,  in  company  with  his  older 
brother,  Horace,  and  two  other  men,  he  chopped  over 
twenty -two  acres  on  lot  one  hundred  and  ninety-two, 
which  Horace  had  purchased,  and  on  which  he  set- 
tled in  the  spiing  of  1816,  and  where  he  died.  This 
was  the  first  clearing  in  Murray,  on  this  line  between 
the  Ridge  and  Clarendon. 

Mr.   Abner  Balcom  first  settled  in  the  town  of 


302  PIONEER  HISTORY 

Ridgeway,  on  the  farm  now  or  lately  owned  by  Gros- 
venor  Daniels,  to  whom  he  sold  it  and  removed  to 
Murray  "before  the  canal  was  made. 

In  compan}^  with  Mr.  Hiel  Brockway  he  built  the 
dam  and  mills  on  the  west  branch  of  Sandy  Creek, 
on  lot  one  hundred  and  ninety-five,  near  which  he 
has  ever  since  resided. 

These  mills,  a  sawmill  and  gristmill,  are  known 
as  "Balcom's  Mills,''  and  in  them  Mr.  Balcom  has 
always  retained  an  interest. 

Mr.  Balcom  has  always  been  much  respected 
among-  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  has  held  all  the 
town  offices  except  clerk.  He  served  as  Suj^ervisor 
of  Murray  in  1847-8.  He  is  an  influential  and  consis- 
tent member  of  the  Transit  Baptist  church,  in  which 
he  has  been  deacon. 

.  His  son,  Francis  Balcom,  was  among  the  volunteers 
who  went  into  the  Union  Army  in  the  first  years  of 
the  great  rebellion,  and  was  killed  in  battle  while 
gallantly  lighting  to  save  the  country  which  the  in- 
structions of  his  father  and  the  instincts  of  his  own 
nature  had  taught  him  to  love. 

KEUBEX   BRYANT. 

Reuben  Bryant  was  born  at  Templeton,  Worces- 
ter county,  Massachusetts,  July  IStli,  1792.  He 
graduated  at  Brown  University,  Rhode  Island,  about 
the  year  1816. 

After  some  time  spent  in  teaching,  he  removed  to 
Livingston  county,  N.  Y.,  and  studied  law  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  late  Judge  Smith,  in  Caledonia.  Having 
been  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court,  he 
settled  to  practice  his  profession  in  Holley  about 
the  year  1823,  in  whicli  village  he  was  the  pioneer 
lawyer. 

In  the  fall  of  1849  he  removed  to  Albion,  and  in 
1855  he  removed  to  Buffalo  to  aid  his  only  son,  Wil- 


OF    ORLEANS    COUNTY.  303 

liam  C.  Bryant,  u  lisiiig  young  law3-er  just  getting 
into  practice  in  tliat  cit}-. 

He  was  appoint(^cl  Master  in  Chancery  by  Governor 
Silas  Wright,  an  office  he  lield  when  the  Conrt  of 
Chancery  was  abolished  nndei'  tlie  Constitution  of 
1846. 

He  was  a  thorougli  cUissical  scholar,  and  had  liis 
mind  well  stored  with  Greek  and  Latin  lore,  which  lie 
delighted  to  quote  in  social  moments  with  his  friends 
when  circumstances  made  it  proper. 

As  a  la wj^er  he  had  a  clear  perception  of  the  law 
and  the  facts,  and  of  their  bearing  in  his  cases  ;  but 
he  was  too  exact,  cautious,  and  diffident  of  himself 
to  be  an  advocate.  All  his  life  he  suffered  from  a 
malady  which  was  a  perpetual  burden  and  cross  to 
him,  and  annoyed  him  in  his  business.  He  died  in 
Buffalo  in  January,  1863. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 


VIIXAGi:   OF   nOLI^EY. 


Areovcster  Uamlin — First  Store — Post  Office — Frisbie  &  Seymour- 
Early  Merchants — First  Sawmill — Lawyer — Tavern — Justice  ot 
the  Peace— Salt  Brine — ]Mammoth  Tooth— Salt  Port — Presbyterian 
Church — Salt  Spring. 

OLLEY,  situate  in  the  town  of  Murray,  is 
a  village  which  owes  its  existence  to  the  Erie 
Canal.  The  site  of  this  village  was  originally 
covered  \nth  a  heavy  growtli  of  hemlock  trees.  These 
were  mostly  standing  when  the  canal  was  surveyed 
through,  hut  it  being  apparent  a  town  must  grow  up 
liere,  a  vigorous  settlement  had  been  begun  when 
work  on  the  great  embankment  was  commenced. 

Areovester  Hamlin  took  up  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  which  included  most 
of  the  present  village  of  Holley,  about  the  the  year 
1820,  and  immediately  commenced  clearing  off  the 
timber  and  laid  out  a  village. 

Col.  Ezra  Brainard  was  the  contractor  who  built 
the  embankment  for  the  canal  over  Sandy  Creek,  and 
while  that  work  was  progressing  settlers  came  in  and 
began  to  build  up  the  place. 

Mr.  Hamlin  erected  a  store  in  which  he  traded.  He 
built  an  ashery  and  carried  on  that  business  ;  he  also 
built  the  first  warehouse  on  the  canal. 

To  help  his  village,  and  accommodate  the  settlers 
who  were  coming  in,  he  got  a  j^ost  office  established 
here  of  which  he  was  first  postmaster.     He  was  an 


OF    OliLKANS   (orXTV.  805 

enterprising,  active  business  man,  but  attempted  to 
do  more  business  than  his  means  would  permit,  and 
failed.  All  his  propert}^  was  sold  out  by  tlw  Slierift" 
about  the  year  1828  or  1829. 

Ml".  John  W.  Strong  opened  a  store  here  a  little  af- 
ter Mr.  Hamlin,  and  Ik?  also  failed  about  the  time  Mr. 
Hamlin  did,  when  Hiram  Fi'isbie  and  James  Seymour 
purchased  ail  the  real  estate  tliat  Hamlin  liad  liot 
sold  to  other  settlers. 

Mr.  Frisbie  came  here  in  1828  and  opened  a  store 
and  connnenced  selling  goods,  a  business  in  which  he 
has  more  or  less  been  engaged  ever  since. 

Mr.  Frisbie  l)ouglit  out  the  interest  of  Mv.  Seymour 
many  years  ago,  and  he  has  sold  out  the  greater  pail 
of  his  tract  of  land  into  village  lots. 

Among  the  early  merchants,  aftei-  thos(>  named, 
Avere  Mower  and  "Wardwell,  and  Selby  &  Xewell. 
Alva  Hamlin,  Geo.  A.  Porter,  S.  Stedman,  and  E. 
Taylor  Yv'ere  carpenters  and  joiners,  who  settled  here 
in  an.  early  day.  John  Avery  and  brother  were  the 
first  blacksmiths.  Samuel  Cone  Avas  the  first  shoe- 
maker.    Dr.  McClough  first  2)hysician. 

Harley  N.  Bushnell  l)uilt  a  sawmill  on  the  creek 
north  of  the  canal,  in  1824. 

Reuben  Bryant  settled  as  a  lawyer  in  Holley  about 
the  time  the  canal  was  made  and  was  the  first  lawyer. 
John  Onderdonk  was  the  first  tailor. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Samuel  Cone  built  and  kept 
a  tav(^rn  where  the  Mansion  House  now  stands  ;  and 
a  Mr.  Barr  built  and  kept  another  tavern  house,  a 
little  west  of  the  Mansion  House.  Both  of  these 
taverns  were  l^efore  the  Canal  was  navigabl(>. 

Turner  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  Presbyterian  and  Baptist  meeting  houses  were 
built  in  1831. 

Major  AVilliam  Allis  came  here  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  John  AY.  Strong.     After  the  closing  out  of 
20 


;5(.)()  PrONEEIt   HISTORY 

Mr.  Stjong's  biusiness  Maj.  Allis  carried  on  biisiiies.s 
iis  a  i)rodiK'e  dealer  and  served  a  term  as  Sheriff  of 
Orleans  Connty. 

Salt  Avas  found  in  the  ra\ine  on  the  bank  of  the 
<"n'««k  south  of  the  canal.  A  brine  spiing  was  located 
near  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  creek.  In  its  nat- 
ui-al  state  this  was  known  as  a  '  deer  lick."  When 
the  Static  of  Connecticut  sold  the  land  on  which  this 
spring  wjis  found,  in  the  deed  given  they  reserved  all 
mines,  niinei-als  and  salt  siu'ings.  The  State  after- 
waids  agreed  with  Mr.  John  Il(n^d  that  he  should 
•  )|)en  the  sj)ring  and  test  the  water  and  share  half  the 
avails  with  the  State.  Mr.  Reed  dug  out  the  spring, 
set  two  kettles  near  the  creek  in  the  ravine  and  com- 
menced boiling  the  water  for  salt.  When  the  water 
was  pumped  from  the  well  it  ap})eared  limpid  and 
clear,  after  btdling  it  became  red  colored,  and  if  then 
boiled  down  to  salt  it  remained  red  colored  salt.  To 
remed}^  this  he  boiled  the  water,  then  drew  it  off  in 
\;its  to  setth^  the  coloring  matter  fell  to  the  bottom, 
the  clear  brine  was  then  returned  to  the  kettles,  and 
made  whitt?  salt. 

Heed  commenced  boiling  in  1814.  After  a  time  six- 
teen kettles  were  set  liere  to  make  salt  and  used  un- 
til navigation  was  opened  in  the  canal,  when  Onon- 
fhiga  salt  coidd  he  furnished  here  so  cheaj)  these 
works  were  abandoned.  Indeed,  they  never  afforded 
11  |)rofit  to  those  working  them. 

The  wood  for  the  fires  was  cut  on  the  west  side  of 
tlie  creek  mainly,  and  drawn  upon  the  top  of  the 
bank,  of  proper  length  to  put  under  the  kettles,  and 
thrown  down  the  bank  through  a  spout  made  of  tim- 
ber. A  load  of  wood  was  sold  at  the  works  for  a 
bushel  of  salt,  or  one  dollar.  Althougli  the  Ibrine  so 
obtained  was  comparatively  weak,  the}'  made  hun- 
dreds of  bushels  of  salt,  which  was  sold  to  settlers  in 
this  vicinity,  and  carried  away  in  bags. 


OF    ORLEANS    COUNTY.  >>01 

Some  years  after  the  canal  was  dug,  Erastiis  Cone 
bored  for  stronger  brine  to  a  depth  of  nearly  one 
hundred  feet,  near  the  old  spring,  but  tlie  result  did 
not  warrant  his  making  salt  there  and  none  has  been 
made  since. 

The  first  school  housc^  in  the  yillage  of  Holler"  was 
made  of  logs,  about  the  year  1815,  and  stood  not  far 
from  the  present  railroad  depot.  It  had  no  arrange- 
ments for  making  a  fire  in  it,  and  was  used  for  a 
school  only  in  the  summer,  for  several  years.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  school  was  Lydia  Thomas,  after- 
wards Mrs.  Henr}'  Hill. 

When  laborers  were  excavating  and  building  the 
canal  embankment,  a  tooth  of  some  huge  animal,  a 
mammoth,  perhaps,  was  dug  np.  The  tooth  was  a 
grinder,  and  weighed  two  pounds  and  two  ounces. 
No  other  bones  of  such  a  creature  have  been  found, 
and  it  has  been  conjectured  this  tooth  must  have  been 
shed  there  by  the  animal  to  whicli  it  belonged,  when 
it  came  after  salt.  It  is  now  in  the  State  collection  in 
Albau}'. 

Holley  was  sometimes  called  '  Salt  Port,'  by  tlie 
boatmen  :  but  that  name  was  soon  dropped  for  Hol- 
ley, a  name  given  to  the  village  in  honor  of  Myron 
Holley,  one  of  the  Canal  Commissioners,  wlieii  tlu' 
canal  was  dug. 

On  the  5th  of  .lanuary,  1819,  a  Congregational 
Church  was  orgjinized  at  the  village  of  Sandy  Creek, 
in  Murray,  which  was  distinguished  as  the  '  Congre- 
gational Clmrcli  of  Sandy  Creek.'  July  13,  1881,  by 
act  of  the  Pr(>sl)ytery  of  Rochester,  this  Church  was 
united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Clarendon, 
and  removed  to  Holley,  where  the  new  organization 
was  thereafter  known  as  the  '  Church  of  INIurray.' 

The  village  of  Holley  was  incorporated  undei"  tlu' 
general  Act  of  the  Legislature,  July  1,  1850. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


TUE  YILLAC4If;   OF     ntJLBERTOX. 

Joseph  Biuld — Canal  Basin — First  Warehouse — First  Grocerj' — First 
Tavern — I.  IT.  S.  Hulbert — First  Named  Scio — Methodist  Society — 
Abijah  Reed  and  Sons. 


HE  village  of  Hulberton  is  a  canal  village 
in  the  town  of  Murray,  Joseph  Budd,  from 
the  county  of  Rensselaer,  x^ew  York,  settled 
here  in  May,  1826,  and  purchased  of  a  former  proprietor 
about  one  hundred  acres  of  land  lying  on  both  sides 
of  the  canal.  At  lirst  Mr.  Budd  resided  in  a  log 
house  standing  a  little  soutli  of  the  Methodist  Meeting 
liouse.  He  afterwards  erected  a  substantial  stone 
dwelling  in  which  he  resided,  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
.Marcus  H.  Phillips. 

Mr.  Budd  was  a  large  hearted,  generous  and  public 
spirited  man,  with  sagacity  enough  to  see  liere  must 
l)e  a  village  if  the  advantages  were  properly  improved, 
and  he  set  to  work  accordingly. 

In  1828  he  dug  a  basin  in  the  soutli  bank  of  the 
canal  west  of  the  bridge,  large  enough  for  canal  boats 
to  turn  about  in,  and  commenced  to  sell  village  lots  to 
sQcli  as  he  could  induce  to  purchase  of  him.  Settlers 
soon  located  here. 

In  1880,  Dr.  Frisbie  built  a  warehouse  on  the  basin 
Budd  had  dug  out.  This  was  the  lirst  ware- 
house. 

Isaac  II.  tS.  liulburt  opened  a  grocery  on  the 
tow  path  east  of  the  bridge  in  1830,  being  the  first 
grocery. 


*      OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  '^09 

Orsamus  Squire  buiit  and  occupied  a  store  on  the 
lot  now  used  for  a  liotel,  in  1828.  This  was  the  first 
store. 

This  store  was  altered  over  and  fitted  up  for  a 
tavern,  and  tlie  first  tavern  kept  here  hy  Tinioth}- 
Tuttle,  in  1832. 

In  1833  Mr.  Budd  caused  his  land  next  to  the  liigii- 
way  and  canal  to  be  laid  out  into  village  lots  by  A. 
Cantine,  surveyor,  and  the  village  has  been  Iniilt  on 
this  plan. 

I.  H.  S.  Hulburt  was  an  active  business  man,  wlio 
sold  goods,  bought  farm  produce,  staves  and  lumber, 
and  drove  a  brisk  trade  with  the  boatmen,  and  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace. 

Finding  it  inconvenient  to  0:0  over  to  Sandv  Creek, 
on  the  Ridge  for  all  their  mail  business,  he  applied 
for  a  post  office  here. 

The  village  was  named  Scio  at  an  early  day  by  ^Iv. 
George  Squire. 

On  examining  for  a  name  for  the  new  post  office,  it 
vvas  found  there  was  one  post  office  named  Scio  in 
ISTew  York  alread}^,  and  tlie  village  name  of  Scio  was 
changed  to  Hulberton,  in  honor  of  Mr.  Hiilburt,  1)}' 
which  name  the  village  and  the  j)Ost  office  have  ever 
since  been  called. 

The  post  office  was  established  in  1835,  I.  H.  S.  Hul- 
burt, first  postmaster. 

Mr.  Joseph  Budd  was  a  religious  man,  and  desiring 
to  promote  the  cause  of  religion  and  good  morals 
among  the  people  in  his  settlement,  he  invited  Elders 
Wooster  and  Hemenwa}^  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  to  make  this  one  of  their  preaching  stations, 
and  through  these  instrumentalities,  a  society  and 
church  of  Methodists  was  organized.  This  society 
erected  their  meeting  house  in  1835.  Its  trustees 
.at  that   time  were   I.  11.  S.   llulburt,  Saniu(4  Co}M'- 


810  riOiTEKK   HISTORY 

land,  Hiram  Hibbard,  Josepli  Budd,  and  George 
Squire. 

Among  the  prominent  business  men  whose  wealth 
and  industry  aided  largely  to  build  up  Hulberton, 
were  the  Reed  family,  consisting  of  Abijali  Reed 
and  his  sons  Epenetus,  Hercules  and  Jacob,  and  his 
son-in-law  Edward  Mulford. 

They  were  merchants,  upright,  honorable,  and  fair, 
who  came  here  from  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  They  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  the  community,  and  carried 
on  a  large  business  while  they  lived. 

Gilbert  Turner  was  the  first  blacksmith,  and  Wm. 
Perrigo  was  the  first  shoemaker. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  and  near  Hulberton 
wei-e  Remember  S.  Wheeler,  George  Squire,  and 
Hanford  Phillips,  who  bought  the  farm  on  which  Mr, 
Budd  formerly  resided  and  on  which  he  set  out  the 
apple  orchard,  which  has  since  become  justly  cele- 
brated, now  owned  by  Mr.  Phillips. 

Mr.  Joseph  Budd,  wiio  is  worthy  to  be  called  the 
l*ioneer  of  Hulberton,  died  in  May,  1806. 


CHAPTER  XXrV 


VILLAGE   OF     niNDSBtTRGH. 

Jacob  Luttenlon— Jacob  Hinds  and  Brothers — First  W:irchons<;— Jab*;>t 
Allison — First  Hotel. 

'iXDSBURGH,  a  little  village  in  the  tcnvii  <^t 
Murray,  is  situated  on  land  which  was  first 
settled  by  Jacob  Luttenton.  who  built  the  first 
house  here.  Mr  L.  sold  out  to  Jarob  Hinds  in  1820, 
and  Mr.  Hinds  commenced  building  up  a  village. 
]Mr.  Hinds  built  the  first  warehouse  in  181)0,  and  tlie 
lirst  tavern  in  1835. 

He,  in  connexion  with  his  brother  .Jo(4,  built  the 
tirst  store  for  selling  dry  goods  and  groceries,  in  188;"), 
i)})ened  it  for  trade  in  183G. 

In  the  year  1882,  consideralile  trade  liaving  l)<'en 
(established  here,  and  the  emigration  to  Kendall  an<i 
other  places  north  generally,  making  this  its  point  o* 
debarkation  from  the  (^anal,  the  Hinds  Brothers  and 
their  neighbors  in  public  meeting  resolved  to  call 
tlieir  place  Hindsburgh,  believing  a  small  village 
would  be  liere  located. 

The  trade  in  i)ro(luce  })roving  good  at  Hindsburgli, 
Mr.  AV.  Whitney,  of  Rochester,  built  another  ware- 
house hei(^  in  1880. 

Hindsbingli  has  always  been  a  good  placr  froirj 
which  to  shi]»  the  abundant  crops  of  gi-ain,  apples, 
and  fVirm  ])roduce  r.'iised  in  this  neighborhood.  As 
long  as  tiavel  by  passengers  went  l)y  the  canal,  boats 
stopping  h»^re.  with  tlie  help  of  local  trade,  mad(j  busi- 
ness liveb.-. 


312  riONEEU    IIISTOKY 

Several  grocery  stores  have  been  kept  here,  a  iiimi- 
ber  of  meclianics  maintained,  and  a  large  trade  in 
dry  goods  snstained  by  the  Hinds  Brothers  and 
others. 

The  death  of  Joel  and  Darius  Hinds,  the  removal 
of  their  younger  brother  Franklin  to  Iowa,  and  the 
death  of  Jabez  Allison,  who  was  an  early  settle]- 
here,  and  who  had  dealt  largely  in  produce,  seemed  to 
check  the  transaction  of  business,  and  for  some  time 
llindsburgli  has  not  increased  in  trade  or  popula- 
tion. 

Mr.  Allison  was  for  many  years  a  justic'  of  the 
T)eace,  and  Supervisor  of  the  tuwn. 


CHAPTEK  XXY. 


THE    TOWN   OF     lUDGEWAY. 

Formed  from  Batavia— First  Town  Meeting— Turner,  White  cc  Ilooic- 
er's  Grist  Mill— First  Saw  Mill— Dr.  Wm.  Wiiite— Salt  Works- 
Seymour  Murdock— Eli  Moore  First  Tavern  Keeper  and  Merch- 
ant— School  Districts — First  Scliool — Universalist  Society— First 
Stage — Isaac  Bennett — Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 

IDGEAVA"!  was  formed  from  the  town  of  Ba- 
tavia, June  8th,  1812,  and  included  in  its 
original  limits  wdiat  now  comprises  Ridgeway. 
Gaines,  Barre,  Shelby,  Yates  and  Caiiton. 

In  1830  the  west  tier  of  lots  in  the  town  of  (laines, 
and  three  lots  lying  next  south  of  them  in  Barre,  be- 
ing part  of  the  most  westc^rn  tier  of  lots  in  the  loth  town- 
ship, second  range  of  the  Holland  Purcliase,  were 
added  to  the  east  side  of  Ridgeway,  in  order  to  in- 
clude the  whoh'  villag<>  of  Knowlesville  in  one 
town. 

This  town  ^vas  named  from  the  Ridge  Road,  or 
natural  embankment  called  "The  Ridge,""  which  runs 
through  the  county,  parallel  witli  the  shore  of  Lake 
Ontario,  and  was  the  first  town  incor]K)rated  in  Or- 
leans count}'. 

The  first  towii  meeting  in  this  cuinily  was  jicld  at 
Oak  Orchard,  in  Ridgewa}',  April  Oth,  181:?.  At 
this  meeting  01iv(vr  Booth,  of  (laines  Coijiers,  was 
elected  Supervisor. 

A  bountj-  of  live  dolhirs  on  each  wolf  killed  in 
town  w^as  voted  yearly-  at  several  town  meetings. 

Judge  Otis  Tuinei-  removed    with   liis   family  frou) 


314  nONKEii   ULSTOKY 

Palmy m,  X.  Y.,  and  settled  at  Oak  Orcliard  in  No- 
\ember,  1811.  His  brother-in-law,  Dr.  Wm.  ^Vhite, 
came  from  Palmyra  shortly  after  and  settled  near 
JNfr.  Turner. 

Turner,  White  &  Hooker  built  a  <;rist  mill  on  Oak 
Orchard  Creek,  between  tlie  Rid<z;<*  and  Medina  in 
1812. 

The  Holland  Company  built  a  sawmill  on  the  same 
creek,  near  M<Klina,  in  1805. 

Dr.  William  White  was  the  first  physician  who 
settled  in  Orleans  Co.  After  a  few  years  he  removed 
to  Albion  and  built  a  sawmill  there  on  Sandy  Creek, 
a.  little  south  of  tlie  village. 

As  settlers  came  in  Dr.  White  uave  more  attentioii 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  did  a  large  l)usi- 
ness.  And  about  the  time  of  the  digging  and  open- 
ing of  the  canal,  he  kei)t  a  small  drug  store  in  con^ 
nexion  with  his  other  business,  practicing  nuHlicine  in 
pai'tnershi})  with  Dr.  O.  Nichoson. 

When  Orleans  county  was  organized  lie  was  ap^ 
pointed  the  first  Surrogate. 

He  w;ts  afterwai'ds  engaged  in  boating  on  the  canab, 
then  carried  on  a  farm  in  (Jarlton,  and  about  1842  he 
returned  to  Albion  and  lesumed  the  practice  of  med- 
icine, adopting  the  homeopathic  system.  Not  getting 
much  practice  he  removed  to  HoUey,  where  he  served 
several  years  as  Justice  of  the  j)eac(^  of  Murray,  and 
died  a  few  years  after. 

The  Holland  Cimipany  cut  out  roads  to  the  brine 
springs  north  of  Medina,  and  built  w^orks  for  making 
salt.  But  little  salt  was  made  until  the  works  ])assed 
into  possession  of  Isaac  Bennett,  in  1818.  He  bored 
about  one  hundred  and  lifty  feet  and  obtained  brine 
which  he  boiled  into  salt,  having  at  on<^  time  as  many 
as  seventy  kettles  in  use,  furnishing  a  large  portion 
of  all  the  salt  used  in  this  ])ortion  of  the  country. 
At    the    time  of  opeuing  the   canal    these  salt   Avorks 


(»K    OKLKANS   (OUNTY.  81^) 

were  superseded  by  Onondaga  salt,  and  discontinued. 

Mr.  James  H.  Perry,  of  Ridgeway,  has  furnished 
tlie  following  additional  history  of  this  town  : 

''  The  first  permanent  settlement  in  tliis  town  was 
made  by  Seymour  Murdoch.  In  tlie  spring  of  1810, 
he  started  with  his  family  to  remove  to  western  New 
York  to  settle  where  he  might  find  a  place  to  suit. 
Arriving  at  Avon,  he  left  his  family  there,  which  con- 
sisted of  twelve  besides  liimself,  and  with  his  oldest 
son  went  to  the  land  office  at  Batavia.  He  there  learned 
that  the  llidge  Road  had  been  opened,  and  a  few  set- 
tlements made  on  it. 

From  Batavia  he  went  to  Buffalo,  followed  down 
tlie  river  to  Lewiston,  then  went  east  along  the  Ridge 
Road,  and  when  about  two  miles  east  of  the  western 
boundary  of  Orleans  county,  he  came  to  two  men  by 
The  name  of  Lampson,  eating  their  dinner  l)y  a  tree 
they  had  Just  cut  down. 

Thes(*  mp]i  had  conti-act«'d  with  the  Holland  Com- 
pany to  bu}'  2)art  of  lot  twenty-fou]',  township  fif- 
teen, range  four,  and  Mr.  Murd(.)ck  ]jurchased  of 
them  their  rights  to  the  land  they  had  selected.  This 
done  he  returned  to  Avon  after  his  family,  going  by 
way  of  Batavia,  while  his  son  went  east  on  th(^  Ridge 
to  find  the  best  I'oute  to  get  through. 

His  eldest  daughter  declared  she  would  go  no  far- 
ther into  the  woods  and  was  left  at  Avon.  Taking 
the  remainder  of  the  family  he  stai'ted  for  Ridgewaj', 
traveling  through  a  dense  forest  to  Clarkson,  thence 
west  on  the  Ridgt^  Road,  they  reached  their  new- 
home  June  1st.  1810. 

A  ^Ir.  AVilliam  Davis  lu'gan  to  build  a  log  house 
on  the  lot  iKwt  west  of  Murdoclvs  about  this  time, 
but  did  not  move  his  family  there  till  September, 
1810. 

Soon  after  this  two  men  located  at  the  Salt  Works 
one  and  one-half  miles  woiithof  the  Rid^jre  on  the  bank 


aiO  PioxEErw  iiisT()]iv 

of  Oak  Oi'L'liard  Creek,  in  n  log  liou^e  erected  by  the 
Land  Compan}'. 

Erza  I).  Barnes  came  the  same  summer  and  ])oarded 
atMiirdocks  while  he  was  building  his  house  two  and 
a  half  miles  east,  and  worldng  two  days  in  eacli 
week  for  Mr.  Murdock  to  jiay  for  his  board.  At  that 
time  there  was  in  the  present  town  of  Ridge  way  live 
horses,  two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  three  cows,  all  the  an- 
imals of  the  kind  in  town.  These  wej-e  brought  in 
by  Sej'Uiour  Murdock. 

Eli  Moore  moved  to  E,idgeway  Corners  in  the  S])ring 
of  1811,  and  built  a  block  house  which  he  opened  as  a 
tavern  th(^  same  season,  and  which  still  comprises  a 
part  of  the  large  hotel  standing  ther(\ 

Tile  same  season  he  opened  a  small  store  for  tlie 
sale  of  dry  goods  and  groceries,  which  makes  him  no 
doubt  the  pioneer  landlord  and  merchant  of  Ridge- 
way,  if  not  of  Orleans  county. 

Sholes  and  Cheeney  were  the  first  blacksmiths, 
Isaac  A.  Bidlard  the  first  tanner  and  currier  and 
shoemaker.  Dr.  Wm.  White  the  first  physician,  Israel 
Douglass  the  first  justice  of  the  i)ea.ce,  Cyrus  Ilar- 
wood  the  first  lawyer,  and  Elijah  Hawley  the  lirst 
postmaster. 

In  1814,  the  town  was  divided  into  school  disti-icts, 
by  William  White,  Micali  Harrington  and  Gideon 
Freeman,  throe  Commissioners  of  Ccjnnnon  Schools. 

District  Xo.  2  extended  on  the  Ridge  from  the 
County  Line  on  the  west  to  Oak  Orchard  Creek  on 
the  east,  a  distance  of  about  seven  mih's,  the  bounda- 
ries north  and  south  were  unlimited. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  of  logs,  in  1815,  on 
the  nortli-west  corner  of  lot  number  twenty-four,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Ridge  Road. 

The  first  school  in  town  was  l;iughl  by  Betsey 
Murdock  in  1814,  in  a  liarn  built  l)y  lier  father, 
Seymour  Murdock.     This  barn  is  still  standing. 


'  OF   OTJLKAXS    COT '^iTY.  817 

A  d'cuv^htev  oi'  William  Davis  was  the  first  xjersoii 
who  died  in  town.  She  was  buried  about  a  mile  west 
of  the  Corners,  in  what  is  probably  the  oldest  bury- 
ing ground  in  town,  and  b}^  some  said  to  be  the  old- 
est in  the  County. 

The  first  bii-tli  in  town  was  a  daughter  of  John 
MMrdoek. 

The  first  Universalist  Society  was  organized  Dec, 
1-1,  1838.  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Perr}^  gave  them  a  site  on 
which  their  ])resent  church  edifice  was  erected  and 
dedicated  in  June,  1885.  Kev.  Charles  Hammond 
was  the  first  pastor  of  that  church. 

Mr.  Ilildreth,  of  A'ienna,  drove  the  first  public  con- 
veyance for  carrying  passengers,  and  the  mail  between 
Ilochester  and  Lewiston,  being  a  covered  wagon 
di-awn  ])y  two  horses. 

When  Isaac  Bennett  connnenced  salt  boiling  at  Oak 
Orchard,  Israel  and  Seymour  B.  Murdock,  contract- 
ed to  furnish  him  sixty-five  cauldron  kettles  by  a  day 
set.  They  bought  the  kettles  near  Utica,  sent  them 
by  lake  to  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  v/here 
they  did  not  arriv(3  until  the  day  before  the  contract 
expired.  They  raised  teams  enough  to  transport  all 
the  kettles  to  the  Salt  Woi'ks,  at  one  trip  in  time  to 
])erform  their  contract  and  get  their  pay  in  gold." 


lUOGllAPlUES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

rsK.vKL  I)ou(;la8s. 

Mr.  Douglass  Avas  born  in  !Xew  Milford.  Connecti- 
cut, November  20,  1777.  He  moved  to  Scottsville, 
Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  in  180G.  In  1810,  he  removed 
to  the  town  of  Batavia,  now  Ridgewa}',  Orleans  Co. 
He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peac(^  in  Oi-leans  Ca 


318  PIONKEK  JIISTOKY  * 

liaving  been  appointed  previous  to  1812,  for  the  town 
of  Batavia. 

At  the  Hist  town  meeting  held  in  and  for  the  town 
of  Ridgeway,  after  that  town  was  set  off  Ironi  Bata- 
via, at  the  house  of  John  CI.  Brown,  at  Oak  Orchard, 
April  6,  1813,  he  was  elected  town  Clerk.  This  was 
the  first  town  officer  elected  by  tlie  people  residing  in 
what  is  now  Orleans  County. 

There  being  no  magistrate  to  preside  at  town  meet- 
ing in  the  new  town  of  Ridgeway,  a  Justice  by  the 
namt^  of  Smith  was  sent  from  Batavia  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  otlier  tou  n  officers  were  elected  afterwards 
at  the  same  meeting. 

Mr.  Douglass  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  three  terms  in  Ridgeway ;  h(3  also  held  various 
otlier  town  offices,  and  at  one  time  was  Justice,  Over- 
seer of  the  Poor  and  Supervisor. 

He  was  generally  and  justly  regarded  as  an 
lionest,  fail-  minded  man,  and  one  of  the  best 
l)usiness  men  in  the  county.  He  always  resided  on 
the  Ridge  Road,  near  Oak  Orchard  Creek.  Mr. 
Douglass  died  January  2,  18G4,  aged  SG  years. 

W.M.   C  TAXNKU. 

"  I  was  l>orn  in  Clarendon,  Rutland  Count}',  Ver- 
mont, ^Vpril  'iO,  1793.  My  father  gave  me  a  good 
common  school  education,  with  a  few  months  study 
at  an  academy. 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1815,  1  ]<'ft  home  with  a 
friend,  and  sj)ent  most  of  the  next  summer  ex])loring 
tiie  western  country.  We  bought  land  in  the  toAvn  of 
Ridgeway,  tlien  nearly  thi-ee  miles  away  from  any  set- 
th^ment.  T  returned  to  A'ermont  to  prepare  for  ])erma- 
nent  settlement  on  my  land  tiie  next  spring. 

When  the  time  came  to  go  back,  my  friend  was 
sick  and   could   not  go,  and  my  father  permitted  my 


OF   OKLEAIS'S    COr/JN'TY.  319 

younger  brother  Josias,  not  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  to  accompany  me. 

We  began  our  journey  February'  14,  1810,  with  a 
good  yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon,  and  in  company  witli 
another  team  we  went  on  our  wear}'  way. 

We  bought  two  barrels  of  poi'k  at  ^kaneatehas, 
Avhich  completed  our  outlit.  We  arrived  at  our  new 
liome  March  <>,  1810,  being  twenty-one  days  on  the 
road.  I  cut  tlie  first  tree  that  was  cut  on  the  farm  on 
which  I  now  live,  lot  seventeen,  township  fifteen, 
range  three.  We,  my  brother  and  I,  kept  '  bachelor  s 
hall '  on  my  land  two  years. 

In  October,  1810,  my  brother  went  to  Verniojit, 
leaving  me  in  the  woods  alone,  out  of  sight  and  hear- 
ing of  my  neighbors.  I  suffered  man}^  hardships  that 
winter,  ])rincipally  for  want  of  pro])er  food.  I  <'ut  all 
^he  trees  I  could  and  fed  our  oxen  on  the  to})S,  for  we 
had  raised  little  in  that  cold  season  for  the  sustenance 
of  man  or  beast.  I  enjoyed  my  work  well,  but  the 
nights  were  long  and  lonesome. 

On  leaving  home,  my  mother  gave  me  her  bible  and 
1  read  it  through  that  winter  by  iiiv  light. 

My  brother  returned  in  February.  The  next  win- 
ter  I  left  him  to  'keep  house,'  but  in  comparative 
t'omfort,  for  we  had  plent}'  of  proA-isions. 

I  went  to  Vermont  in  the  fall  of  1817,  and  returned 
in  ^larch  folh)\ving,  bringing  with  me  my  younger 
sister  for  a  housekeeper.  She  still  resides  near  me, 
as  the  wife  of  Avery  Y.  Andrews,  is  the  mother  of  a 
large  family,  and  in  good  circumstances. 

My  sister  and  myself  left  my  father's  the  last  day 
of  February,  in  a  cutter,  and  arrived  in  Ridgeway, 
March  12,  1818.  Her  bed,  l)edding  and  clothing  we 
brought  ])acked  in  a  box,  which  contained  all  her 
Avorldly  effects,  with  which  she  commenced  life  as  an 
independent  housekeeper. 

She  was  a  tall,  slim  girl,  activt?  and  clieerful,  car- 


'•^20  PIONEER  HISTORY 

i-j'iiig  sunsliiiio  in  lier  coiinteimnce  and  manners 
wherever  she  was.  Sh®  left  a  large  circle  of  young 
friends  and  associates,  tlie  pleasures  of  a  father's 
liouse  and  a  mother's  care,  to  obscure  herself  in  the 
woods,  for  tlie  benefit  of  her  brothers.  She  found  a 
respectable  circle  of  3'oung  people  here,  although 
I'ather  widelj^  scattered. 

We  brought  with  us  at  that  time  a  favorite  dog, 
concluding  our  sister  would  feel  greater  security  in 
her  wilderness  home,  when  we  were  albsent  at  our 
work  :  and  he  fully  justified  our  conclusions,  for  he 
soon  learned  to  consider  himself  as  her  special  pro- 
tector in  our  absence,  and  nothing  could  induce  him 
to  leave  her/ when  we  were  awaj^  from  home. 

If  she  Avent  for  an  afternooif  s  visit  through  the 
woods  to  a  neighbor's,  the  dog  vras  sure  to  accom- 
])any  her,  lie  down  by  the  door,  and  be  ready  to  at- 
tend her  home.  She  alwaj^s  felt  secure  in  his  pres- 
ence. 

As  cold  weather  approached,  our  season  for  eve- 
ning parties  commenced.  Most  of  the  houses  in  town 
were  cheerfully  opened  for  our  accommodation,  and 
the  young  folks,  with  a  few  couple  of  3'oung  married 
people,  formed  a  company  quite  respectable  in  point 
of  numbers.  We  were  quite  democratic,  there  were 
]io  exclusions.  Mau}^  a  time  did  w^e  spend  our  eve- 
nings dancing  on  a  split  plank  floor,  traveling  several 
miles  to  the  place  appointed,  walking  on  logs,  over 
brooks  and^wet  grounds,  some  of  the  company  car- 
rying a  torch  to  light  the  wa}^ 

We  sometimes  went  four  or  fiv(^  miles  to  an  evening 
party,  on  an  ox  sled,  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen, 
with  as  many  passengers  as  could  '  pile  on  ;'  and  as 
far  as  appearances  would  prove,  all  enjoyed  both  the 
ride  and  the  dance  first  rate. 

The  first  regular  ball  we  attended  was  held  at  what 
is  now'  Millvilk',  in   Shelby,  July  4,  1819,  and  as  it 


OF   OKLEAXS    COUNTY.  321 

was  quite  a  primitive  one,  and  perhaps  the  first  one 
ever  lield  in  this  county,  it  may  justify  an  imperfect 
description.  • 

There  were  no  carriages,  and  but  fe^^■  horses  in  tlie 
(country.  The  young  men  would  bring  their  girls  be- 
hind them,  l)otli  riding  the  same  horse.  Others 
would  be  in  waiting  to  take  the  horse  and  go  after 
their  girls,  and  so  on  until  the  company  iiad  assem- 
bled. The  same  course  was  pursued  on  their  return 
home. 

At  th(^  time  of  which  I  write,  we  met  in  the  upper 
room  of  a  new  building  made  for  a  store.  The  floor 
was  good,  but  the  ceiling  ovor  head  was  low  at  the 
sides  where  the  seats  were  placed,  and  it  caused  much 
polite  bowing,  to  prevent  our  heads  from  coming  in 
contact  with  the  rafters. 

Our  table  was  spread  in  tlie  street  in  front  of  the 
store,  and  it  was  well  supplied  with  substantial  fare. 
We  had  a  fine,  social  time,  formed  many  j^leasant  ac- 
quaintances and  friendships,  which  Avere  destined  to 
endur(>  through  life.  It  is  presumed  there  are  few 
persons  to  whom  it  do'es  not  give  pleasure,  when  the 
thought  of  such  gatherings,  in  which  they  have  par- 
ticipated, recurs  to  mind.  Of  more  than  twenty 
young  ladi(^s,  who  attended  that  party,  but  tliree  are 
known  to  be  living  at  this  time  (1863.) 

As  bear  stories  are  sometimes  entertaining  to  pio- 
neers, I  will  relate  one  Avith  which  my  sister  was 
somewhat  connected  : 

A  respectable  young  man  of  the  neighborhood 
(tailed  to  visit  her  one  evening,  and  continued  liis  stay 
into  the  small  hours  of  the  night.  His  way  home  lay 
for  a  mile  and  a  half  through  th<^  woods.  He  reported 
next  day  that  as  he  was  retui-ning  through  these 
woods,  lit.'  treed  a  bear ;  but  men  who  were 
alarmed  by  his  outcries,  were  so  uncharitable  as  to 
report  that  the  bear  treed  him.  He  was  never  very 
21 


322  PIONEER  HISTORY 

communicative  on  tlie  subject,  and  it  was  generally 
believed  the  latter  was  the  fact. 

Our  first  religious  meetings  were  held  in  a  log 
scliool  house,  half  a  mile  west  of  Millvllle.  The  peo- 
ple would  assemble  from'  quite  a  distance  and  the 
house  would  be  well  filled. 

Elder  Gregory,  a  Methodist,  was  our  preacher. 
He  resided  near  by,  was  a  good  man  and  practiced 
what  he  taught. 

A  Mr,  Fairbanks  preached  occasionally.  He  or- 
ganized the  first  Presbyterian  Church  in  Shelby,  at 
that  school  house,  in  1820. 

Judge  William  Penniman,  a  popular  school  teacher 
iu  those  days,  taught  a  school  in  that  school  house 
several  terms. 

My  sister  Anna  was  a  pupil  in  his  school  out 
there  in  the  winter  of  1820.  The  old  school  house 
has  long  since  disappeared.  An  academy  and  fine 
church  buildings  have  arisen  in  Millville  in  its  stead. 
There  are,  however,  associations  connected  with  that 
old  school  house  that  will  cau^se  it  to  be  remembered 
by  the  old  settlers. 

I  received  a  lieutenant' s  commission  in  the  militia 
service,  dated  March  4th,  1817,  which  I  believe  to  be 
the  oldest  commission  granted  to  any  one  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Orleans  county.  I  was  promoted  in  regular 
gradation  to  other  military  offices,  and  was  finally 
<?1ected  Brigadier  General,  my  commission  being  da- 
tL'd  April  30th,  1826.  I  was  the  first  officer  of  that 
rank  ever  commissioned  in  this  county.  I  discharged 
its  duties  as  well  as  I  was  able  for  two  years,  and 
then  resigned  my  commission. 

I  appointed  the  following  named  gentlemen  my 
brigade  staff"  officers,  viz. :  William  Allis,  Brigade 
Inspector  ;  Samuel  B.  Ayers,  Paymaster  ;  John  Fish, 
Aid-de-Camp;  Harmon  Goodrich,  Quartermaster  ;  Or- 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  323 

son  Nichoson,  Surgeon  ;  Alexis  Ward,  Judge  Advo- 
■cate. 

I  was  married  Marcli  IStli,  1821,  to  Esther  Lee, 
daughter  of  Judge  John  Lee,  of  Barre.  My  wife 
died  in  August,  1835. 

I  married  for  my  second  wife  Julia  A.  Flagler, 
daughter  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Flagler,  of  Genesee  county, 
N.  Y. 

WILLIAM  C.  TANNER." 
Ridgeway,  Dec.  5th,  1863. 

Gen.  Wm.  C.  Tanner  died  July  8th,  1869. 

LEVI    DAVIS. 

"I  was  born  in  Wardsborough,  Vermont,  in  1793. 
My  father  was  a  revolutionary  soldier.  My  father 
;afterwards  removed  with  his  family  to  New  Salem, 
Mass.,  at  which  place  I  was  married  in  November, 
1816,  to  Miss  Lorana  Hunt. 

In  1814  I  served  a  short  time  as  soldier  in  the  war 
with  England. 

Soon  after  I  was  married,  in  company  with  two 
other  families,  I  moved  my  wife  and  a  few  articles 
of  furniture  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon,  to  El- 
licott,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  a  journey  it  took 
us  thirty-five  days  to  perform,  during  which  snow 
fell  almost  every  day. 

After  passing  Canandaigua,  we  entered  a  forest 
with  few  settlers,  and  even  these  residing  from  three 
to  ten  miles  apart ;  and  in  one  case  we  traveled  four- 
teen miles  without  passing  a  single  house.  The  road 
most  of  the  way  was  only  marked  trees,  with  tlie  un- 
derbrush cut  out,  and  no  bridges  over  the  streams  ex- 
cept the  ice. 

On  our  wa}'  we  exchanged  our  wagons  for  sleds, 
and  how  any  of  us  lived  through  the  last  perilous  day 
of  fourteen  miles  travel  through  the  woods,  God  only 
knows. 


324  PIONEER  HISTORY 

We  started  as  early  as  possible  in  the  morningj 
overturned  one  load  of  goods,  and  fearing  we  should  all 
perish  in  the  woods,  we  unhitched  our  teams  from  the 
sleds  some  time  in  the  night,  patting  our  oxen  before 
us,  the  women  being  supported  by  holding  fast  to 
the  tails  of  the  oxen,  and  thus  pursuing  our  way 
through  the  trackless  forest  four  miles,  we  arrived  ai 
a  log  house  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The 
liouse  had  been  partially  chinked  but  not  plastered. 
Here  we  tarried  the  next  day  and  night,  during  which 
time  we  went  back,  shod  our  sleds  and  got  them  out 
of  the  forest. 

AVe  had  to  pay  one  dollar  each  for  a  joke  of  oxen 
one  night  at  hay,  and  one  dollar  a  bushel  ^for  oats. 
So  in  about  forty  days,  like  the  Israelites  of  old,  we 
reached  the  promised  land. 

Tn  October,  before  this  time,  I  had  been  to  Chautau- 
(pia  county  and  contracted  for  a  piece  of  land  there, 
to  do  which  1  traveled  out  there  from  Massachusetts, 
and  back  again  with  my  knapsack  on  my  back,  on 
foot,  averaging  fifty  miles  travel  per  day  on  the 
Journey. 

The  third  day  after  arriving  on  my  land,  I  pro- 
cured some  boards  and  built  a  shanty  twelve  feet 
square,  nailing  two  of  the  corners  to  two  standing 
trees,  making  a  board  roof,  with  not  a  tree  cut 
down  near  it. 

The  year  1816  was  the  'cold  season;"  corn  was 
cut  off  by  frost  and  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get 
bread.  For  three  weeks  before  harvest  we  had 
nothing  to  eat  but  some  very  small  new  potatoes,  but- 
ter and  milk.  By  changing  the  order  of  having  these 
dislies,  we  made  quite  a  variety,  lived^  7iig7i,  with 
hopes  buoyant,  and  worked  hard.  Here  we  cleared 
up  a  new  farm,  raised  an  orchard  from  apple  seeds 
brought  out  from  Massachusetts,  and  also  raised 
eight  children. 


>>.. 


A 


'■^-y^OC(X4 


'^-C^. 


OF    OKLEANS    COUNTY.  325 

I  went  into  lumbering  business  in  1832 ;  took  my 
lumber  to  Cincinnati  to  sell,  but  the  stagnation  in 
trade,  and  scarcity  of  money,  owing  to  the  course 
taken  by  the  Old  United  States  Bank,  after  its  re- 
newed charter  was  vetoed  by  President  Jackson, 
made  it  impossible  for  me  to  dispose  of  my  lumber 
without  great  loss,  which  obliged  me  to  sell  my  prop- 
erty in  Chautauqua  county  to  pay  my  debts,  and  I 
found  even  then  I  had  not  enough  by  $500  to  pay  up. 
That  deficiency  I  afterwards  earned  by  work  at  mason 
business  and  paid  up  in  full. 

I  removed  to  Orleans  county  in  1833,  and  worked 
as  a  mason  several  years. 

Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Erie  canal,  I  have 
paid  seventy-five  cents  per  3'ard  for  sheeting,  and 
seventy-five  cents  per  yard  for  calico  for  my  wife  a 
dress.  I  have  also  paid  fifteen  dollars  a  barrel  for 
salt. 

I  have  laid  the  corners  of  over   fifty  log  buildings, 
and  have  helped  raise  as  many  frames.     I  have  spent 
more  than   six  months  of  my  labor  gratuitously,  in 
opening  new  public   highways,  and  building  cause- 
ways. 

LEVI  DAVIS." 

Ridgeway,  February,  1863. 

.JERE31IAII    BKOWTs'. 

"  I  was  born  in  Cheshire,  Massachusetts,  July  7. 
1780.  My  father,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  died  when  I  was  seven  years  old.  ] 
lived  with  my  eldest  brotlier  until  I  was  sixteen  years 
old,  and  then  ran  away  from  him  and  worked  out 
by  the  month  the  next  seven  years. 

When  I  was  nineteen  j^ears  old  I  traveled  with  my 
knapsack  on  ni}-  back,  on  foot  from  Massachusetts  to 
Farmington,  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  spent  a  short 
time  there,  then  returned  as  I  came,  most  of  tlie 
<way  alone. 


326  PIONEER  HISTORY 

Again  in  1807,  I  traveled  the  same  ground  over  in 
tlie  same  way. 

In  1809  I  was  married  to  Abigail  Davis,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Paul  Davis,  of  New  Salem,  Massachu- 
setts. 

The  winter  after  I  was  married  I  came  on  horse- 
back to  Farmington,  to  seek  a  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Western  New  York,  and  located  a  piece  of 
land  for  that  purpose.  I  went  back  to  Massachu- 
setts and  worked  by  tlie  month  to  earn  the  means 
to  move  my  family  to  my  new  farm. 

I  arrived  in  Farmington  in  February,  1811,  and 
built  me  a  log  house  in  the  woods  one  mile  from 
any  inhabitant.  I  was  then  the  happy  possessor  of 
a  wife  and  one  child,  six  dollars  in  money,  a  dog 
and  a  gun.  I  exchanged  my  gun  for  a  cow,  which 
was  the  best  trade  I  ever  made  except  when  I  got 
jiiy  wife.  The  next  sj^ring  I  cleared  my  land,  and 
raised  over  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn  the  same 
season. 

In  1812  the  Avar  broke  out,  I  Avas  called  to  the 
lines  to  defend  my  country.  I  received  notice  on 
Friday  night,  about  nine  o'clock,  to  be  in  Can- 
andaigua  on  the  next  Monday  morning  at  ten 
o'clock,  to  march  to  Buffalo.  I  hired  a  man  and 
woman  to  take  care  of  my  sick  wife  and  child  du- 
ring my  absence,  w^hile  I  responded  to  the  call.  I 
Avas  then  an  officer  in  the  militia,  and  I  marched 
on  foot  with  the  rest  of  the  officers  and  men  to  Buffalo, 
Avhere  Ave  arrived  the  second  day  after  the  battle. 
Our  company  Avas  the  first  that  arrived  and  assisted 
in  collecting  the  dead.  On  receiving  an  honorable 
discharge  I   returned  home. 

The  tivo  summers  next  folloAving,  myself  and  Avife 
Avere  sick  with  the  ague  and  fever,  almost  con- 
stantly. 

In  the  Avinter  of  1815,  the  ague  having  left  me,  and 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  327 

having  regained  ray  health  enough  to  move,  I  sold 
ray  land  and  returned  to  Massachusetts.  The  next 
spring  I  carae  to  Ridgeway,  in  Orleans  count}',  and 
"bought  nie  some  land,  and  in  May  brought  on  ray 
family. 

About  t]ie  first  of  the  next  September,  myself  and 
wife  and  one  child  were  taken  sick,  and  nntil  Decem- 
ber following,  we  suffered  every  thing  but  death. 
Often  during  that  time  while  myself  and  wife  w^ere 
confined  to  our  beds,  our  children  w^ere  crying  for 
food,  and  neither  of  us  had  strength  sufficient  to  ena- 
ble us  to  get  to  the  cupboard  tf)  help  them. 

In  the  month  of  June  next,  Israel  Murdock  in- 
formed me  of  several  families  v/ho  were  destitute  ol 
bread,  and  asked  if  I  thought  it  could  be  had  for 
them  at  Farmington.  I  told  him  I  thought  it  could, 
and  taking  his  liorse  and  wagon,  I  went  there  and  got 
a  load  of  corn  for  which  I  paid  one  dollar  a  bushel. 
This,  together  with  some  rye,  which  Israel  Murdock 
had  then  growing,  and  which  the  neighbors  com- 
menced cutting  as  soon  as  it  was  out  of  the  milk, 
sufficed  for  all  of  us  to  live  on  until  after  the  hai- 
vest. 

The  favorite,  because  tlie  only  way  to  replenish  OTir 
meat  barrels,  vras  io  hunt  raccoons,  using  their  flesh 
in  place  of  pork,  and  their  fat  to  fiy  doughnuts  in. 
The  next  winter  (181G)  I  went  to  Farniington,  and 
bought  two  tons  of  pork,  paying  ten  dollars  per  hun- 
dred for  it,  and  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  each  for 
barrels,  and  three  dollars  per  barrel  for  salt.  I 
brought  my  pork  to  Ridgeway  with  my  oxen,  and 
sold  it  to  tlie  inhabitants  for  from  twenty-six  to  thirty 
dollars  per  barrel,  trusting  it  out  to  such  as  could  not 
then  pay,  and  some  of  those  old  pork  accounts  re- 
maining unsettled,  I  am  beginning  to  consider  tlieni 
rather  doubtful  demands. 

In  the  spring  of  181G,  Ave  held  our  first  town  meet- 


328  PIONEER   HISTORY 

ing,  and  elected  our  iirst  town  officers.  There  not  be- 
ing freeholders  enongli  in  town  to  lill  the  offices  to 
which  we  had  chosen  onr  candidates,  Mr.  Joseph  El- 
licott  sent  Andrew  Ellicott  to  onr  town  to  notify  the 
town  officers  elect,  to  go  to  Batavia  and  take  deeds  of 
tlieir  lands  and  give  their  mortgages,  in  order  to 
"become  legal  town  officers,  and  they  went  and  did  so. 
I  lia\ing  beeii  cliosen  commissioner  of  highway's  went 
with  the  others. 

In  my  official  capacity  I  assisted  in  lading  out  live 
highways  from  the  Ridge  to  the  lake.  AVe  would  lay 
a  road,  following  the  lines  between  lots  to  the  lake, 
keeping  us  bus}'  all  day.  At  night  we  would  make 
a  fire,  cut  some  hemloclv  boughs  tor  a  bed,  and  sleep 
on  them  before  our  iiie  soundh'  till  morning.  Then 
making  our  breakfast,  we  would  take  another  line 
ba<'k  to  the  Ridge,  and  by  tlie  time  we  could  get  back 
to  the  settlement  it  would  be  afternoon,  and  when  we 
could  get  something  to  eat  we  generally  had  excellent 
appetites. 

AVe  were,  however,  amply  compensated,  our  })ay  be- 
ing two  dollars  for  every  twent^'-four  hours  we  spent 
in  this  kind  of  labor,  to  apply  on  our  taxes.  AVho 
would  not  desire  to  be  a  rommissioner  of  liiglnvays 
under  such  circumstances  I 

Since  then  I  have  held  all  the  town  offices  in  tlie 
gift  of  the  people  except  clerk,  collector,  and  consta- 
ble. I  was  once  a  candidate  for  the  last  named  office, 
but  to  my  great  grief  and  moifification  T  was  de- 
feated. 

Our  county  was  viny  iinhealtliy  until  1828.  That 
T  think  was  the  last  sickly  season,  and  during  that 
season  ni}''  health  was  good,  and  for  eight  weeks  in 
that  summer  I  never  undressed  myself  to  go  to  bed 
at  night,  being  constantly  watching  with,  and  taking 
care  of  tlie  sick,  eitjier   in   n\\  own  family  or  among 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  329 

my  neiglibors.  Since  that  time  this  county  has  }3een 
jis  healthy  as  any  other  section  I  ever  Ivnew. 

In  1822  I  bnilt  the  first  furnace  and  cast  the  first 
plough  ever  made  in  this  State  west  of  Rochester. 

When  I  first  settled  in  Ridgeway,  the  town  of 
Ridgeway  extended  from  Niagara  county  eastward  to 
the  Transit  Line,  having  originallj'  been  the  nortli 
part  of  Batavia,  from  which  it  was  taken 

Such  is  some  of  ni}^  experience  as  a  j^ioneer  of 
Western  New  York.  I  have  lived  to  see  '  the 
wilderness  blossom  like  the  rose/  and  to  see  many 
of  ni}^  early  companions  in  the  hardships  of  this  new 
county,  depart  before  me  to  'that  bourne  from  whence 
no  traveler  returns.' 

JEREMIAH  BROWN.'" 

Ridgeway,  July,  18C2. 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Brown  died  Nov.  17,  1 868.  He  Avas 
a  man  of  large  frame,  strong  and  vigorous  constitu- 
tion, a  farmer  by  occupation,  but  sometimes  varied 
his  employment  by  buying  cattle,  and  driving  them 
to  Philadelphia  to  market,  and  in  other  speculations 
in  trade. 

Albert  F.  Brown,  late  jNIayor  of  Lockport,  and  Col. 
Edwin  F.  Brown,  late  of  the  Unioii  Arnn',  are  his 
sons. 

.lOSKPK      L.     PKIMIY. 

Joseph  L.  Perry  was  born  in  Huntington,  Conniiect- 
icut,  November  30th,  1794.  In  1804,  his  father  re- 
moved his  family  to  Aurelius,  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.. 
to  a  farm  near  Auburn. 

Joseph  L.  Perr}^  married  Julia  Ann  Reed,  daugh- 
ter of  Jesse  Reed,  of  Aurelius,  July  15th,  1819,  and 
in  March,  1820,  removed  to  Ridgewa^',  Orleans  coun- 
ty, and  located  half  a  nnle  west  of  Ridgewa}-  Cor- 
ners, on  the  Ridge  Road,  on  lot  twenty-four. 

He   Avas  town   collector  and  clerk  of   Ridgeway, 


830  riONEER  HISTORY 

and  deputy  sheriff  while  this  county  was  part  of  Gen- 
esee county,  also  deputy  sheriff  of  Orleans  county 
afterwards. 

In  1825  he  purchased  the  store  and  hotel  at  Ridge- 
way  Corners,  and  carried  on  the  mercantile  business 
for  a  number  of  years,  theu  moved  into  the  liotel  and 
kept  tavern  there  many  years.  He  also  carried  on 
tlie  asliery  business,  and  at  one  time  run  ten  miles  of 
the  old  pioneer  line  of  stages,  on  the  Ridge  Road,  in 
company  with  Champion,  Bissell  and  Walbridge. 
He  was  postmaster  a  number  of  years,  and  mail  con- 
tractor between  Ridgewa}"  and  Shelby,  several  years. 
He  was  extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
grain  on  tlie  Erie  canal,  running  two  boats  of  his 
own,  which  lie  somt^times  commanded  in  person.  He 
Avas  a  shrewd,  sharp,  quick  witted  man,  a  good  judge 
of  human  nature,  always  jovial  and  abounding  in 
fun. 

He  never  lacked  for  expedients  to  extricate  himself 
from  any  perplexity,  and  his  sagacity  ajid  energy  al- 
ways carried  him  safel}^  through,  or  over,  every  imped- 
iment which  interfered  Avith  his  purposes.  He  died 
September  17th,  1845,  at  his  residence  in  tlie  town  of 
Ridgewaj'. 

CIIARLKS     1>.     HURLIXGIIAM. 

'"I  was  born  in  Greenlield,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
February  8th.  1810.  being  the  fifth  of  my  father's 
eleven  children. 

Tn  1818  my  father  removed  vntli  his  family  to  Per- 
ry, now  in  \V3^oming  county,  on  what  is  known  as 
'The  Cotringer  Tract.'  The  Avestern  line  of  our 
farm  avjis  the  eastern  bounds  of  the  Holland  Purchase. 
Tlie  farm  contained  one  hundred  acres,  fifteen  of 
Avhich  had  been  cleared  and  a  log  house  and  barn 
erected  when  avc  came  on. 

In  clearing  our  land  Ave  Avere  ^accustomed  to  make 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  331 

'  black  salts '  for  sale,  as  these,  with  pot  and  pearlash 
were  the  principal  articles  of  export  that  hi-onght 
money  into  the  settlement. 

In  common  with  our  neighbors,  we  sometimes  suf- 
fered some  hardships  for  lack  of  the  necessaries  of 
life.  My  father  at  one  time  went  to  the  Genesee  Flats, 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  distant,  and  bought  corn  that 
was  nearly  spoiled  by  the  Hood  of  the  previous  sea- 
son, pajdng  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel, 
to  help  us  along  in  the  spring. 

I  renjember  one  pleasant  incident  of  our  x^ioiic^^r 
history.  After  getting  along  as  best  we  could  at  one 
time,  without  any  bread  for  several  weeks,  we,  sat 
down  to  a  meal  of  boiled  new  unground  wheat,  and 
maple  molasses,  all  the  product  of  our  own  farm,  the 
most  delicious  dinner,  it  seemed  to  me,  I  ever  ate. 
Ah,  that  was  a  dinner  a  little  boy  could  not  easily 
forget,  and  that  was  the  crisis,  the  turning  j^oint  in 
the  pinch. 

Not  long  after  this  we  had  grain  to  sell,  wheat  at 
the  nominal  price  of  thirtj^-one  cents,  and  corn  at 
eighteen  cents  per  busliel,  with  very  limited  sales  at 
those  prices. 

Our  house  stood,  as  I  then  thought,  in  about  th(^ 
center  of  the  world,  and  having  joined  to  it  an  addi- 
tion of  another  house  of  about  the  like  size,  we  were 
frequently  favored  v/ith  social  gatherings  of  peoph* 
there  of  all  classes  during  tlie  winter  evenings.  Those 
were  occasions  never  to  be  forgotten  by  mc  Tht' 
childr<^n  and  young  people  vrould  amuse  themselves 
in  harmless  phiy  and  gossip,  and  the  parents  enjoy 
themselves  in  x>lanning  and  story  telling,  while  a  few 
of  the  venerable^  motlicrs  were  intent  on  pre})aring 
the  invariable  accompaniment  f)f  every  gatliering,  a 
good  supper. 

Starch,  prim,  and  ui)]^er  ten,  w^ere  unknown  there. 
Liberty,  equality  and  frat<^rnity  reigned   suprinnc^  in 


382  PIOXEEK    niSTOKY 

those  halcyon  days.  Ah  nie,  hut  tliose  were  days  of 
'Auld  Lang  Syne/  the  memory  of  which  is  exceeding 
pleasant. 

In  those  times  our  religious  meetings  were  held  in 
a  XDi'iAate  house  about  half  a  mile  from  ours.  Elder 
Luther,  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  was  the 
preacher  who  visited  tlie  place  occasionally.  He  was 
a  little  eccentric  in  his  manners  and  language,  but 
c[uite  well  adapted  to  the  times,  and  character  of  his 
congregations. 

As  a  specimen  of  pioneer  preaching,  it  is  remem- 
bered of  Elder  Luther,  as  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
sermon,  urging  some  topic,  and  wishing  to  adduce 
authority  to  sustain  some  point,  he  stopped  a  mo- 
ment, then  said,  'John,  what  do  you  sayf  Then 
changing  his  tone  of  voice  to  imitate  a  fancied  reply, 
he  repeated  what  the  apostle  says  on  that  subject. 
And  then  he  called  out,  '  Paul,  what  are  your  views  V 
Giving  a  repl}^  as  before,  in  like  manner  thus  interro- 
gating other  apostles  and  our  Savior,  and  giving  tlieu- 
answers,  closing  up  with — "And  now,  old  Ben.  Luther, 
vrhat  have  you  to  say  to- all  this  V  and  then  he  gave 
his  own  conclusions,  makiug  the  ])omt  deeply  impres- 
sive upon  his  hearers. 

Our  chorister  was  the  blacksmith  of  tlie  settlement, 
*  Uncle  Seava,'  as  he  was  called  by  everybody;  a 
white  liaired,  tall,  slim,  straight  and  solemn  old  gen- 
tleman, lie  would  rise  and  give  the  pitch  for  New 
Durham,  Exhortation,  Xorthfield  or  Majesty,  or 
.some  such  tune  in  which  the  whole  congregation  who 
could  sing  would  join,  taking  their  style  from  the 
chorister,  giving  to  the  vi^ords  and  the  music  that  pe- 
culiar '  nasal  twang '  common  in  those  days,  which 
was  designed  to  be  especially  impressive  upon  the 
hearers,  and  it  had  its  intended  effect,  at  least  upon 
me,  for  I  have  not  forgotten  those  auspicious  occa- 
sions I  witnessed  when  I  was  a  little  boy.     Although 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  333 

some  of  the  young  peo^ole  seemed  to  "be  amused  by 
the  queer  preaching  and  nasal  singing,  and  some  who 
attended  failed  to  be  profited,  apparently,  by  the  ser- 
vices, yet  those  religious  meetings  were  reall}^  the 
'  green  spots '  in  our  earl}^  pioneer  life,  and  were 
doubtless  of  great  moral  value  to  the  settlement. 

Though  district  schools  were  established  at  an  early 
day  around  us,  my  earh^  advantages  for  attending 
school  were  quite  limited.  However,  at  the  the  age 
of  eighteen  years,  I  went  before  the  board  of  inspec- 
tors for  examination,  and  being  found  by  them  of 
sufficient  capacity,  I  was  installed  into  office  as  a 
school  master  in  a  district  school,  which  calling  I  al- 
ternated witli  mercantih*  business,  until  I  Avas  thirty 
years  old. 

I  embraced  religion  while  teaching  school  in  Poi*- 
tageville,  Wj^oming  county,  in  April  1831,  and  soon 
after  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

I  married  Adeline  C.  Miller,  in  Xew  Berlin,  jST.  Y., 
in  September,  1834. 

In  1840  I  was  received  as  a  member  of  tlie  (xenesee 
Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  began  preacli- 
ing,  in  which  service  I  havt^  ever  since  been  (^ngaged^ 
removing  to  Knowlesville  in  1862. 

CHARLES  D.  BURLINGHAM." 

Knowlesville,  April,  1864. 

.TOSIAS   TANNER. 

"  I  was  born  in  Clarendon,  A'ermont,  August  ITth, 
1795. 

I  received  a  fair  common  school  education  like 
other  farmers'  sons  in  that  neighborhood. 

I  came  to  the  town  of  Ridgeway,  N.  Y.,  with  my 
brother,  William  C.  Tanner,  in  March,  181G,  wliere  I 
liave  resided  ever  since. 

I  was  married  November  28th,  1825,  to  Miss  Lucy 
Baldwin. 


334  PIONEER  HISTORY 

I  have  lived  on  my  farm  forty-eight  years.  I  have 
had  four  children.  My  youngest  son,  Benj.  B.  Tanner, 
was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  151st  Regiment  N.  Y.  Volun- 
teers, and  died  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  the 
war  of  the  rebellion.  * 

JOSIAS  TANNER." 
Ridgeway,  April,  1864. 

LUCIUS    BARRETT. 

''I  was  born  in  Fabius,  N.  Y.,  April  13th,  1807. 
I  was  son  of  Amos  Barrett.  My  father  removed  with 
his  family  to  Ridgeway,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1812,  and 
settled  on  the  Ridge  Road,  one  mile  west  of  Ridge- 
way Corners.  We  moved  into  the  house  ol  Jona- 
than Cobb,  and  resided  with  his  family  until  my 
father  got  his  house  ready  for  his  family.  Mr.  Cobb 
was  an  old  neighbor  of  my  father,  and  had  moved 
to  Ridgeway  the  year  before  we  came. 

I  well  remember  the  house  my  father  first  built 
with  the  help  of  the  settlers  in  that  vicinity.  The 
walls  were  logs,  the  floor  basswood  logs  split,  and 
hewed,  the  roof  covered  with  long  shingles  split  from 
black  ash,  not  a  door  about  the  premises,  nor  a  board. 
A  blanket  hung  at  the  entrance  served  as  a  door,  and 
kept  out  the  cold  and  wild  beasts.  The  fireplace  was 
some  stones  against  the  logs  at  one  end  of  the  house, 
and  the  chimney  was  a  hole  through  the  roof.  This 
sheltered  us  from  the  rain,  but  the  snow  sifted  in 
plentifully. 

Farming  has  been  my  business.  I  bought  the 
farm  on  which  I  have  since  resided,  in  1831. 

I  was  married  to  Electa  B.  Chase,  of  Clarkson,  N. 
Y.,  April  23d,  1833. 

I  have  lived  to  see  the  various  changes  through 
which  this  section  of  country  has  passed.  I  have 
known  by  experience  the  pinching  pains  of  poverty, 
and  I  have  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  competence.     I 


OF   0RLEAN8  COUNTY,  335 

have  seen  broad  fields,  smiling  witli  harvests  of  plen- 
ty, emerge  from  the  wild  forests.  I  have  not  only 
seen  this  but  I  have  realized  it.  I  have  lived  it,  and 
I  trust  my  claim  will  not  be  disallowed  when  I  assert 
that,  in  a  humble  manner  perhaps,  I  have  contribu- 
ted my  part  to  bring  about  these  happ}"  results. 

LUCIUS  BARRETT." 

Kidgeway,  1864. 

SEYMOUR    H.    MUKUOCK. 

"  I  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  April  8th, 
1796. 

My  father,  Seymour  Murdock,  emigrated  to  Or- 
leans county  in  1810,  w^hen  I  vras  fourteen  years  of 
age,  and  located  on  a  part  of  the  farm  now  owned 
and  occupied  b}^  me  on  the  Ridge,  in  Ridgeway. 

In  the  transit  from  Dutchess  county,  we  had  a  hard 
time,  traveling  with  an  ox  team,  with  a  family  of  twelve 
persons.  We  were  a  little  over  a  month  on  the  way, 
and  reached  our  place  of  destination  June  1st,  1810, 
and  dwelt  in  our  wagons  nearly  six  weeks,  and  until 
we  had  time  to  erect  a  house  in  which  we  could 
reside. 

From  the  Genesee  River  to  Clarkson  Corners  was 
one  dense  wilderness,  with  onl}^  an  occasional  com- 
mencement of  clearing  made  by  a  few  settlers.  At 
Clarkson  was  a  log  tavern  at  which  we  stopped. 
From  Clarkson  to  our  first  stoi)ping  place  there  was 
then,  I  think,  but  three  houses,  and  they  were  cheap- 
ly erected  log  cabins. 

We  were  two  days  in  journeying  from  Clarkson  to 
Ridgeway.  The  roads,  if  roads  they  could  j^roperl}' 
be  called,  were  almost  impassable. 

At^the  crossing  of  Otter  Creek,  in  Gaines,  fire  had 
consumed  the  logs,  which  had  been  thrown  into  the 
bank  to  form  a  sort  of  dugway  up  the  ascent  from 
the  stream,  which  left  an  almost  perpendicular  ascent 


386  PIONEER  HISTORY 

for  us  to  rise.  To  accomplisli  tins,  we  took  off  our 
oxen  and  drove  them  up  the  old  road,  and  then  with 
teams  on  the  hill,  and  cliains  extending  from  them  to 
the  tongues  of  the  wagon  below,  we  drew  our  wagon 
np.  In  doing  this,  at  one  time  the  draft  appeared  too 
much  for  the  team,  the  oxen  fell  and  were  drawn  back 
by  the  load,  and  the  horn  of  one  of  the  oxen  catching 
under  a  I'oot,  was  torn  entirely  off". 

The  next  difficulty  we  encountered  was  at  a  slash- 
ing about  two  miles  east  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
where  a  man  by  the  name  of  Sibley  had  cut  down 
timber  along  the  track,  and  just  then  had  set  it  on 
lire,  which  rendered  our  path  both  difficult  and  dan- 
gerous, as  we  were  obliged  to  go  through  the  midst 
of  the  fire. 

The  next  difficulty  was  at  Oak  Orchard  Creek.  A 
dugway  had  been  made  down  the  bank  only  to  ac- 
commodate the  Yankee  wagons,  and  ours  being  a 
Pennsylvania  wagon,  with  longer  axle,  it  was  serious- 
ly endangered  by  its  liability  to  be  thrown  down  the 
bank. 

On  ascending  the  bank  out  of  the  creek  on  the  west 
side,  one  of  my  brothers,  then  a  little  fellow,  fell  off 
the  wagon  and  might  liave  been  left  if  he  had  not 
screamed  lustily  for  help. 

On  arriving  at  our  journey's  end,  our  first  business 
was  to  eat  from  the  stock  of  prepared  provisions  we 
])rouglit  with  us.  The  food  was  laid  out  in  order 
around  a  large  stumj)  which  stood  conveniently  by, 
and  I  well  remember  the  relish  with  which  we  all 
])artook  of  this  our  first  meal,  at  our  new  home  in  the 
Avoods. 

The  scenery  here,  as  I  now  rc^nember  it,  was  truly 
magnificent,  one  dense  forest,  composed  of  large,  stur- 
dy oaks,  extended  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  east  and 
Avest,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ridge  Road.  Or 
the  north  side  the  forest  was  more  dense,  and  com- 


OF   OllLEAXS    COUiSrTY.  337 

posed  of  a  greater  variety  of  timl^er.  The  nearest 
ojDening  east  of  its,  was  the  one  alluded  to  above, 
where  we  encountered  the  fire,  two  miles  east  of  Oak 
Orchard  Creek.  The  nearest  one  west  was  at  John- 
son's  Creek,  althongh  Mr.  Dunn  had  erected  the  body 
of  a  log  house,  but  had  made  no  clearing  at  the  place 
on  which  he  has  since  resided,  two  miles  east  from 
Johnson's  Creek. 

At  Johnson' s  Creek,  which  was  about  five  miles 
west  from  our  then  home,  there  was  one  log  house 
built,  and  a  small  clearing.  This  was  our  nearest 
jieighbor,  as  north  of  us  was  an  unbroken  forest  ex- 
tending to  Lake  Ontario,  with  no  mark  of  human 
liabitation  west  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek. 

At  the  head  of  Stillwater,  in  Carlton,  lived  a  Avidow 
Brown,  and  I  have  heard  of  residents  at  the  mouth  of 
Johnson's  Creek,  but  of  this  we  knew  nothing  then. 
South  of  us  were  no  families,  so  far  as  we  knew,  ex- 
cept two  families  by  the  name  of  Coon,  who  I  think 
came  in  thi^  same  season  we  did,  and  one  family  by 
the  name  of  AValsworth,  i-esiding  near  Tonawanda 
Swamp,  which  was  our  only  stopping  place  between 
our  place  and  Batavia,  on  this  side  the  swamp.  We 
liad  no  necessity  then  for  the  law  we  now  liave  called 
the  'cattle  law.' 

The  store  nearest  to  us  then  was  at  Batavia,  thirty 
miles  distant. 

Our  nearest  jjost  office  was  also  at  Batavia,  and 
there  also  was  the  nearest  church,  and  so  far  as  1 
know,  that  was  the  nearest  place  to  us  wliere  religious 
meetings  were  held. 

There  was  also  the  nearest  school  house  known  to 
me,  unless  there  was  one  at  what  is  called  Slater's 
Settlement,  near  Lockport. 

The  nearest  gristmill  was  at  Niagara  Falls,  forty 
miles  distant. 

The  health  of  our  family  continued  good  during  the 
22 


838  PIONEER  HISTORY 

first  3'ear,  and  yet  the  season  was  so  far  advanced  be- 
fore we  could  "be  ^^I'epared  to  put  in  seed,  that  we 
raised  nothing  the  first  year  except  some  potatoes 
and  a  few  turnips. 

I  remember  a  man  called  at  our  house  that  sum- 
mer, and  knowing  the  family  he  kindly  offered  to 
make  my  mother  a  garden  gate,  there  being  then  no 
fence  around  the  garden,  or  within  five  miles  of  it. 
The  general  health  of  our  family,  and  of  those  who 
became  our  neighbors,  continued  good,  with  trifling 
exceptions  in  the  form  of  ague  and  fevers,  &c.,  until 
after  the  war  of  1812. 

During  this  war  much  suffering  prevailed,  as  no 
provisions  had  been  laid  by,  and  the  war  necessarily 
took  the  time  of  many  who  would  have  otherwise 
been  raising  all  necessary  food,  thus  ceasing  to  be 
producers,  and  yet  remaining  consumers.  This  pro- 
duced a  great  dearth  of  j)rovisions,  and  much  suffer- 
ing, consequently  in  some  instances  whole  families 
left  the  county,  some  on  foot ;  in  some  instances  wo- 
men went  away  carrying  their  children  in  their  arms, 
in  hopes  of  reaching  a  land  of  plenty  and  safety. 

At  the  taking  of  Fort  Niagara,  I  and  most  of  our 
family,  and  our  neighbors  of  sufficient  age  and  size  to 
bear  arms,  went  to  the  defence  of  our  country.  Du- 
ring our  absence  a  band  of  Tuscarora  Indians  on  a 
retreat  passed  through  our  neighborhood  and  greatly 
frightened  our  women  and  children  before  they  could 
be  made  to  understand  that  these  Indians  were  our 
friends. 

Uj}  to  this  time  the  settlers  were  sparse  and  illy 
prepared  to  encounter  the  horrors  of  war  in  our 
midst,  and  were  in  constant  preparation  for  immedate 
flight. 

The  hardships  and  privations  and  sufferings  of  our 
people  consequent  upon  the  war,  were  speedily  fol- 
lowed by  fearful  sickness. 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  339 

About  this  time  emigrants  coming  to  this  region 
w«re  many  and  frequent,  and  as  the  population  in- 
creased so  the  sickness  increased.  Great  and  ahnost 
universal  suffering  among  the  inhabitants  followed.  If 
any  were  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  sickness  themselves, 
their  physical  abilities  were  overtaxed  with  care  of 
those  who  were  sick,  and  still  the  improvement  of  the 
county  continued  ;  perfect  harmony  abounded  among 
the  people,  and  contentment,  founded  on  hope,  was 
universal. 

On  June  1st,  1825,  just  fifteen  years  after  dining 
off  tliat  stump  above  referred  to,  I  was  married  to 
Miss  Eliza  Reed,  of  Cayuga  county,  IST.  Y.,  and  we 
took  up  our  residence  within  a  stones  thrown  of  the 
log  hut  first  erected  by  m}^  father.  I  have  resided  on 
the  place  ever  since,  and  am  happy  and  contented  in 
the  realization  of  the  hopes  entertained  when  a  boy 
fighting  musketoes  and  felling  trees  in  the  tlien  wil- 
derness, w^here  is  now  a  good  flourishing  neighbor- 
,  hood  of  inhabitants. 

SEYMOUR  B.  MURDOCK." 

Ridgeway,  June,  1864. 

LYMAN   ]iATES. 

Lyman  Bates  was  born  in  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  Janu- 
ary 16th,  1798. 

In  November,  1819,  he  came  to  Ridgeway  and 
commenced  clearing  a  new  farm. 

In  January,  1821,  he  married  Miss  Abinerva 
Kingman,  who  was  born  in  Palmyra  in  June,  1796. 
When  not  employed  in  discharging  the  duties  of 
public  office,  in  wdiich  much  of  his  life  has  been  spent, 
he  has  labored  on  his  farm.  He  has  served  nine 
years  as  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Ridgeway,  been 
several  terms  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  othei- 
town  offices.  He  served  one  term  of  five  years  as  a 
.Judge  of  the  Old  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Orleans 


340  ,      PIONEER  HISTORY 

county.  He  was  a  member  of  Assembly  for  Orleans 
county  in  1828.  He  was  President  of  the  Farmer's 
Bank  of  Orleans,  and  lias  always  been  deeply  en- 
gaged in  business. 

Coming  here  when  everything  was  new  and  unset- 
tled, lie  identified  himself  with  every  movement 
made  to  develop  the  resources  o±  the  country,  and 
to  establish  and  maintain  good  order  and  prosperity.. 
Of  a  plausible  address  and  sound  mind,  honorable, 
fair,  impartial  and  honest  in  all  he  did,  his  party,  his 
iriends  and  all  who  knew  him,  have  ever  made  him 
the  prominent  man  in  his  town  and  neighborhood, 
Aviiose  opinions  have  been  sought,  whose  counsel  has 
been  followed,  and  whose  influence  for  good  has  been 
seen  and  felt. 

DAVID    HOOKER. 

David  Hooker  was  born  in  Connecticut,  July  9th,. 
1771.     He  married  Betsey  Saunders  in  1795, 

Mr.  Hooker  settled  in  Ridgeway,  on  lot  thirty- 
seven,  township  fifteen,  range  three,  in  February, 
1812. 

Soon  afterwards  in  company  with  Dr.  William 
^Vhite  and  Otis  Turner,  he  was  engaged  in  building 
the  mills  on  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  since  known  as 
Morris  Mills,  which  are  now  destroyed.  He  served 
in  the  war  against  Great  Britain,  and  was  at  the 
taking  of  Fort  Erie. 

His  wife  died  in  Mai'cli,  1813.  He  married  his  seC' 
ond  wife,  Polly  Pixley,  February,  1814. 

He  built  the  framed  liouse  now  occupied  by  his 
son,  Perley  H.  Hooker,  in  1816. 

Besides  his  son  Perley,  he  left  one  daughter,  wliO' 
still  survives  him  as  widow  of  the  late  Harvey  Fran- 
cis, of  Middleport,  'N.  Y.  David  Hooker  died  Au- 
gust 6th,  1847. 


OF  OKLEANS   COUNTY.  341 

OTIS   TUKIS^EE. 

Otis  Turner  removed  from  AYayne  county,  and 
settled  on  the  Ridge,  east  of  Ridgeway  Corners,  in  tlie 
year  1811 .  He  was  a  farmer  l)y  occupation,  but  pos- 
sessing intelligence  and  aj)titude  for  business,  he  was 
frequently  employed  in  public,  official  stations.  With 
his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  White,  and  David  Hooker,  he 
built  a  sawmill  on  the  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  between 
Medina  and  the  Ridge,  the  second  in  town. 

He  was  a  Judge  of  the  Old  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  trenesee  county,  before  Orleans  was  set  oft\ 
and  he  represented  Genesee  county  as  one  of  her 
Members  of  Assembly  in  1823. 

He  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Medina,  being  one  of  the  few  who 
took  part  in  its  organization.  He  died  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  August  14th,  1865. 

TII0]\[AS   ^VKLD. 

Thomas  Weld,  father  of  a  large  family  who  bear 
his  name,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1771.  He  mar- 
ried Lorana  Levins. 

They  first  settled  in  Vei-mont,  and  moved  to  North 
Ridgeway  in  1817. 

Mrs.  Weld  died  in  1820,  and  Mr.  AVeld,  November, 
18th,  18o2. 

They  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  sons 
were  Elisha,  Jacob,  Andrew,  Elias,  and  Marston. 
They  all  settled  near  their  father.  Elias  now  lives 
where  his  fatlier  did.  They  were  industrious  and 
thrifty  farmers. 

SAMUEL    CllUKClI, 

Samuel  Church  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1781.  He  married  Ann  Daniels.  They  set- 
tled in  North  Ridgeway,  in  1816.  Mrs.  Church  died 
in  1855.     They  had  four  sons. 


342  PIONEER  HISTORY 

WILLIAM   ]S\    PRESTOT^. 

AVilliani  N.  Preston  was  born  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  in' 
1781.  His  wife,  Sarali  Daniels,  was  born  in  Pem- 
broke, N.  H.,  in  1785. 

They  settled  in  North  Ridgeway,  a  mile  and  a  half 
north  of  the  Ridge,  in  1819. 

His  wife  died  October  3d,  1831.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 29th,  1841.  He  had  three  sons,  Isaac  Samuel, 
and  Williston. 

JAMES     DANIELS. 

James  Daniels  was  born  in  Pembroke,  N.  H.,  in; 
1783.  He  settled  in  North  Ridgeway,  on  the  town 
line.  A  few  years  since  he  moved  to  Michigan.  He 
was  brother  of  Grosvenor  Daniels.  He  had  four 
sons. 

WILLIAM    COCHRANE. 

William  Cochrane  was  born  in  Pembroke,  'N.  H.,. 
in  1781.     He  married  Rlioda  Mndgett,  of  Pembroke. 
They  settled  in  Ridgeway  in  1819.     They  had  four 
sons  and  three  daughters.      William  Cochrane,   of 
Waterport,  is  eldest  of  the  sons. 

V/ILLIAM  coiin. 

William  Cobb  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  He 
married  Hannah  Hemenway.  They  settled  in  Ridge- 
way in  1817.  They  had  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. He  died  on  the  fEirm  where  he  settled,  April  Ist, 
1855,  aged  sixty-six  years. 

S  K Y  MOr  H    ]Sr  I '  Kl )0C  K . 

Seymour  jNIurdock  was  born  in  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  iiil7G4. 

He  married  Catharine  Buck  of  Amenia.  She  \vas 
born  in  17G8. 


OF   ORLEANS  COUNTY.  343 

They  moved  from  Greene  county  to  Ridgeway  in 
1810,  and  located  on  the  Ridge  Road,  about  live 
miles  east  of  Johnson's  Creek.  At  that  time  there 
was  no  settler  between  Mr.  Murdock's  settlement  and 
lake  Ontario  on  the  aorth  ;  none  south  to  the  swamp 
but  Coon  and  Walsworth  in  Shelby,  and  east  and 
west  on  the  Ridge  it  was  several  miles  to  any  neigl)- 
bors. 

The  nearest  postofRce,  store  or  church,  was  at  Ba- 
tavia,  thirty  miles  distant. 

The  nearest  gristmill  was  at  Niagara  Falls,  forty 
miles  distant. 

Mr.  Murdock  was  one  of  tlie  first  settlers  on  the 
Ridge,  in  Ridge wa}^ 

He  had  eight  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  sons 
names  were  Israel,  John,  Seymour  B.,  Henry,  Zimri, 
Jasper,  Hiram,  and  William. 

Israel  kept  public  house  some  lifteen  years  on  the 
Ridge  Road.  He  was  one  of  the  best  business  men 
in  town.     He  died  in  1831. 

John  died  in  Gaines,  September  19tli,  1860.  Mr. 
Seymour  Murdock  died  April  14tii,  1833.  His  wife 
died  September  7th,  1823. 

OUOSA'EXOll    DANIELS. 

Grosvenor  Daniels  was  born  in  Pembroke,  Rocking- 
ham county,  N.  H.,  May  3d,  1793. 

He  married  Sally  Palmer,  of  Vermont,  in  April, 
1813.  She  died  in  July,  18.^4,  and  he  married  Florinda 
Hicks,  in  1855. 

Leaving  his  family  in  Vermont,  Mr.  Daniels  came 
to  Ridge  way  in  the  spring  of  1815  and  took  an  article 
of  part  of  lot  forty- seven,  townshij)  lifteen,  range 
three. 

Robert  Simj3son  came  with  Mr.  Daniels  and  took 
one  hundred  acres   adjoining  his  land.     At  that  time 


844  I'lONEKU   IIISTOKY 

there  was  no   settlement  between  Ridgeway  Corners 
and  Lyndonville,  in  Yates. 

Simpson  and  Daniels  built  for  themselves  a  camj) 
and  began  cntting  the  trees  on  their  lands,  getting 
their  washing  done  and  bread  baked  at  Eli  Moore' s, 
on  the  Ridge.  After  cutting  the  trees  on  five  or  six 
acres,  Mr.  Daniels  went  over  to  Canada  to  work  a 
few  weeks  to  get  money,  as  lie  could  get  none  in 
Ridge  way.  After  a  few  days  he  was  taken  sick  with 
fever  and  ague,  of  which  he  did  not  get  cured  until 
the  next  spring.  Being  unable  to  work,  he  returned 
to  Vermont,  where  he  arrived  in  December,  1815. 
The  next  winter  he  started  to  move  his  family  to 
his  western  home,  on  an  ox  sled.  He  had  sixty  dol- 
lars in  money  and  thirty  dollars  worth  of  leather. 
On  arriving  at  Rome,  N.Y.,  the  snow  went  off  and  he 
bought  a  wagon,  on  which  he  made  the  remainder  of 
his  journey,  and  on  arriving  at  his  log  cabin  home 
he  had  spent  all  his  leather  and  money  but  six  cents, 
and  owed  six  dollars  for  money  he  borrowed  of  a 
friend  on  th(^  journey. 

The  next  summer,  1810,  was  the  cold  season.  He 
had  not  got  his  land  fitted  for  crops  ;  produ(;e  through 
the  country  was  cut  off  by  the  frost,  and  Mr.  Daniels 
found  great  difficult}^  in  getting  food  for  his  family, 
but  having  recovered  from  his  long  sickness  of  the 
former  year,  and  being  strong  and  resolute,  he  worked 
with  a  will  and  got  thiough  until  lie  had  raised  some- 
thing on  his  land. 

Being  among  the  first  settlers  in  his  neighboiliood, 
he  had  raised  produce  and  had  it  to  sell  to  settlers, 
who  came  in  abundantl}'  for  several  years  next  after, 
and  soon  found  himself  in  affluence,  a  condition  in 
which  he  has  ever  since  remained. 

After  a  few  years  on  the  lot  Ik?  first  took  up,  lie 
bought  of  Abiier  Balcoin  the  fai-ni  he  now  lives  on. 
Having  taste  and   ability  foi-  military  service,  he  was 


OF   OKLEANS   COUNTY.  345 

commissioned  Ensign  not  many  years  after  lie  came 
here,  and  rose  hy  regular  promotions  to  Brigadier 
General  in  tlie  militia. 

He  lias  been  a  prominent  man  in  public  aflairs, 
and  though  he  has  never  sought  official  distinction  in 
civil  life,  he  has  been  honored  with  various  town 
and  local  offices . 

LAUKA  EAKEK. 

Mrs.  Laura  Baker  was  born  in  Bristol,  Vermont. 
March  16th,  1799,  and  married  Samuel  Bostwick, 
December  4th,  1816. 

In  January,  1817,  the}'  emigrated  from  Fairfield, 
V^ermont,  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  three  year 
old  steers,  to  Shelby,  N.  Y. 

While  at  AVhitesboro,  on  their  journey,  their 
trunks  were  broken  by  thieves  and  robbed  of  ever}'- 
tliing  valuable.  This  obliged  them  to  sell  part  of  their 
clothing  to  pay  expenses  b}^  the  way.  They  traveled 
in  company  with  another  ox  team  with  another  famil}' 
of  emigrantb',  averaging  from  eight  to  nineteen  miles 
R  day. 

They  remained  the  last  night  on  the  road,  at  Gaines. 
The  snow  fell  that  night  a  foot  deep.  The  road  was 
so  bad  and  the  steers  so  exhausted  by  travel  and 
hard  work,  that  Mrs.  Bostwick  was  obliged  to  walk 
the  last  six  miles  of  the  way  on  foot,  as  she  had  done 
half  the  wa}'  from  Vermont. 

The  house  into  which  they,  with  the  other  v>-agon 
load  of  emigrants,  moved,  was  a  nice  log  building 
with  one  door,  no  window  or  light  except  what  came 
down  cliimney  or  between  the  logs.  It  was  then 
occupied  by  another  family  from  Vermont,  former 
acquaintances. 

A  few  weeks  later  anotlier  family  of  acipiaintances 
came  on  from  A'ermont  and  moved  into  the  same 
house,  where  they  all  resided  until  other  houses  could 
be  built. 


346  PIONEER   HISTORY 

The  inmates  of  this  cabin  now  numbered  twenty- 
five  persons.  Their  furniture  was  two  cliairs,  a  spin- 
ning wheel  and  a  few  pieces  of  iron  ware.  Their 
table  was  a  chest,  their  bedsteads  were  round  poles 
bottomed  with  bark,  one  un  each  side  of  the  room, 
the  other  beds  were  made  on  the  floor.  Holes  bored 
in  the  logs,  in  which,  pins  were  driven,  supj)orted 
shelves  against  the  walls. 

The  next  spring,  while  making  sap-troughs,  Mr. 
Bostwick  cut  his  foot  and  was  disabled  from  work 
four  weeks.  Mrs.  Bostwick  hired  a  few  trees  tapjDed, 
gathered  the  sap  herself,  boiled  it  in  the  house  in  a 
twelve  quart  kettle,  a  six  quart  pot,  and  a  small  tea 
kettle,  and  made  one  hundred  and  sixt}^  pounds  of 
sugar. 

When  th(?  snow  went  off  she  made  a  garden  in 
which  she  set  gooseberry,  raspberry  and  blackberry 
roots  which  she  found  in  the  woods.  She  never 
feared  wild  animals  that  roamed  in  the  forest,  but  she 
used  to  admit  her  fear  of  the  Indians  who  frequently 
came  along  and  remained  all  night,  and  she  would 
watch  and  tremble  with  fear  while  they  slept  like 
logs  on  the  floor,  with  their  feet  to  the  fire. 

Having  worn  out  the  clothing  they  brought  from 
the  east,  Mrs.  B.  bought  a  loom  and  made  cloth  for 
her  family  and  others.  She  took  in  weaving  of  her 
neighbors,  and  received  pay  in  wheat  at  six  shillings 
a  bushel,  though  the  best  she  could  do  with  it  was  to 
take  it  to  "R.idgeway  Corners  and  sell  it  for  four  shil- 
lings a  bushel,  paid  for  in  goods  at  a  high  price. 

Mr.  Samuel  Bostwick  died  many  years  ago,  and  in 
the  y(\ar  1888  his  widow  married  Mr.  Otis  Baker,  a 
thriving  farmer  of  Shelby. 

In  1853  he  disposed  of  his  farm  and  moved  to  Me- 
dina, wh(^re  they  yet  resid(\ 

Married  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  Mrs.  Baker 
lias  passed  a  stirring  and  eventful  life  in  things  which 


OF   OKLEANS   COUNTY.  847 

"belong  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  conntry.  Slie  lias 
passed  through  it  all  in  triumph.  From  pinching 
poverty  to  the  possession  of  abundance,  she  has 
traveled  every  step,  and  surrounded  by  kind  friends 
and  present  plenty,  she  yet  remains  one  of  tlie  best 
specimens  of  the  noble  women  who  did  their  part  in 
bringing  this  county  out  of  the  woods. 

iSTAIIUM   BAKRETT. 

Nahum  Barrett  was  born  in  Hinsdale,  X.  H.  He 
married  Sally  Bennett  of  Westmoreland,  N.  H.,  in 
1805. 

In  March,  1815,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Ti- 
oga county.  His  wife  died  there  in  1820.  In  Janua- 
ry, 1828,  he  removed  to  Ridgeway,  and  died  there 
April  IStli,  following,  aged  fifty-one  years.  He  had 
nine   children,    of   wliom   the  eldest  is 

LUTHEIl     BARRETT. 

Luther  Barrett  was  born  in  Windham  county,  Yt., 
in  1806.  While  living  in  his  father's  family  in  Tioga 
Co.,  for  three  years  of  the  time  it  was  live  miles  from 
Ids  father's  to  any  school,  and  when  a  school  was 
opened  nearer,  young  Luther  never  had  much  op- 
portunity to  attend  it. 

In  Ma}^,  1825,  he  left  his  father's  family  and  came 
to  Ridgeway  and  labored  for  his  uncle,  Amos  Bar- 
rett, on  his  farm.  He  continued  to  work  out  b}"  the 
month,  until  the  year  1831  he  purchased  the  farm 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  from  Ridgeway  Corners, 
on  which  he  has  since  resided. 

He  married  Miss  Almira  Flood,  February  18th, 
1835.  She  was  born  in  Londonderry,  A^ermont,  Jan- 
uary 2d,  1807. 

They  have  four  children,  S3'lvcster  F.,  Elsie  A., 
married  Henry  Tanner  ;   Medora  P.,  and  Lod(Mna  A, 


348  PIOIS'EER  ]IISTOKY 

Lodema  iiiarried  xindrew  Weld,  and  I'esides  in  Pax- 
ton,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Barrett  is  a  former,  wlio  by  a  life  of  persistent 
industry  and  prudence,  lias  accumulated  a  fair  prop- 
erty, and  by  a  life  of  honesty  and  integrity  lias  se- 
cured a  fair  character.  He  enjo^^s  the  confidence  of 
his  townsmen  and  represented  them  as  Supervisor  of 
Ridgewa}^  in  the  years  1857-8. 

OIIEISTOPJIEIt    W] lALEY. 

Christopher  Whaley  was  born  in  Montville,  Con- 
necticut, June  16tli,  1798.  AVith  his  parents  lu)  re- 
moved to  Yerona,  N.  Y.,  in  180;:>. 

He  was  educated  as  a  physician  at  the  medical  in- 
stitution at  Fairfield,  Herkimer  county,  and  gradua- 
ted as  Doctor  of  Medicine,  June  18th,  ]819.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1819,  he  settled  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion at  Shelby  Center. 

In  February,  1832,  he  removed  to  Medina,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  October  20th,  1807. 

Dr.  AYhaley  married  Mary  Ann  S.  Coffin,  March 
20tli  1824.  iVfter  li^r  death  he  married  Soph- 
ronia  Martin  in  1841.  After  her  death  he  married 
Carrie  E.  Perry,  July  IGth,  1863.  His  ^\ddow  and 
three  children  survived  him. 

Dr.  Whaley  devoted  his  life  zealously  to  the  jirac- 
tice  of  his  profession,  in  which  lie  had  a  large  ride 
and  eminent  success.  It  is  truly  said  of  him  "lie 
never  refused  his  services  to  any  one  in  need  of  them, 
whether  they  were  rich  or  poor,  and  without  taking 
into  consideration  the  possibility  of  losing  his  fee.'' 

AXDIJKW    \VKI,1). 

Andnnv  AVeld  was  born  in  Heading,  A'ermont,  Au- 
gust 6th,  1804.  lie  canu^  to  llidgeway  in  the  fall  of 
1817,    in   the   family   of  his   father,   Thomas   Weld. 


OF   OKLEAXS    COUNTY.  349 

The}'  came  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  three  yoke  of 
oxen,  being  twenty- seven  days  on  their  journey.  Mr. 
AVeld  settled  on  lot  nine,  township  fifteen,  range 
four. 

Andrew  resided  with  his  father  until  he  was  twen- 
ty years  old,  then  lal)ored  one  year  for  his  brother, 
EJislia,  on  a  farm  for  one  hundred  dollars. 

In  February,  1828,  he  married  Roxy  Stockwell. 
She  died  May  9th,  1839.  He  married  Clarissa  Root 
for  his  second  wife.  She  died  December  22d,  1866, 
and  for  his  third  ^\Mfe  he  married  Mrs.  Susan 
Downs. 

Mr.  Weld  is  a  farmer,  industrious  and  frugal  who, 
in  the  honest  pursuit  of  his  chosen  calling,  has  laid 
up  a  competence  for  his  support  and  comfort  while 
he  lives. 

WILLIAM    JACKSON. 

AVilliam  Jackson  was  born  in  Duanesburg,  N.  Y., 
October  21st,  1799. 

He  bought  an  article  for  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Kidgeway,  j)art  of  lot  twenty-one,  township 
fifteen,  range  four,  in  September,  1826,  After  build- 
ing a  log  house  on  his  lot,  he  returned  to  Onondaga 
county  after  his  family  and  brought  them  to 
their  new  home  the  next  February.  His 
liouse  was  without  a  door  or  window  or  floor  when 
lie  moved  into  it,  but  blankets  for  a  few  days  were 
good  substitutes  for  doors  and  windows,  when  he 
made  a  floor,  and  doors  and  lived  comfortably. 
Prosperit}^  attended  his  labor.  In  a  short  time  he 
bought  more  land,  wliicli  he  has  fitted  and  cultivated 
into  one  of  the  fint^st  farms  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Jackson  married  Martha  Comstock,  January 
20tli  1822.  They  have  had  eleven  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living. 


350  PIONEER  HISTORY 

His  father,  James  Jackson,  was  born  in  London, 
England,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  early  life. 

ELIJAH    IIAWLEY. 

Elijali  Hawley  was  Iborn  in  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, June  2d,  1792. 

He  married  Rlioda  Spencer  in  May,  1805.  In  May, 
1815,  lie  settled  near  Ridgeway  Corners. 

Mr.  Hawley  was  a  practical  surveyor,  and  many  lines 
of  lands  in  Ridgeway  and  Shelby  were  traced  and 
settled  by  his  surveys. 

From  memoranda  found  among  Mr.  Hawley' s  pa- 
pers after  his  death,  made  by  himself,  in  1814  the 
town  of  Ridgeway,  which  then  comprised  the  present 
county  of  Orleans,  contained  six  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  inhabitants,  one  hundred  and  thirty  electors,  and 
but  live  freeholders  worth  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  each. 

He  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  the  coun- 
cil in  March,  1816,  and  Judge  of  Genesee  County 
Common  Pleas,  May  23d,  1818,  which  office  he  held 
until  his  death. 

He  Avas  Supervisor  of  Ridgewa}^  in  1818.  He  was 
appointed  postmaster  at  Ridgeway  Corners  in 
1816. 

He  died  April  29th,  1820,  leaving  his  widow  and 
six  children  surviving.  Merwin.  S.  Hawley  of  Buffa- 
lo is  his  son. 

-lAMES     .(ACKSON". 

James  Jackson,  eldest  son  of  James  Jackson,  was 
born  in  Duanesburg,  N.  Y.,  March  29th,  1798.  He 
married  Maria  Marlatte,  February  21st,  1819.  He 
settled  on  part  of  lot  twenty,  townshi23  fifteen,  range 
four,  in  Ridgeway,  in  February,  1823,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY,  351 

He  lias  been  a  successful  farmer,  overcoming  by 
sturdy  industry  the  obstacles  of  sickness,  hardships 
and  the  privations  of  a  new  country,  by  which  he 
has  been  beset. 

He  has  had  ten  children,  ]iine  of  whom  survive. 
His  wife  died  December  13th,  1870. 

JOHN    JA-:  VALLEY. 

John  Le Valley  was  borii  at  Paris  Hill,  N.  Y.,  May 
'31st,  1810. 

His  parents  removed  to  Holland,  Niagara  county, 
when  he  was  nine  years  old.  His  father  died  poor, 
leaving  a  widow  and  five  minor  children,  of  whom 
John  was  eldest. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  commenced  the  battle  of 
life  on  his  own  account,  with  a  resolute  will  his  only 
capital,  and  his  father  s  family  on  his  liands  to 
provide  for. 

He  iirst  bought  seventy  rods  of  land  adjoining  the 
place  on  which  his  father  liad  resided,  and  paid  for 
it  in  work  at  seventy-five  ceiits  a  day  and  boarded 
himself.  On  this  he  built  a  small  house,  into  which 
he  moved  his  mother  and  her  children.  He  then 
bought  on  credit  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  On  this 
he  cleared  and  fenced  seventy  acres,  built  a  house 
and  barn,  dug  wells  and  made  other  improvements, 
and  at  the  end  of  three  years  sold  his  farm  for  three 
thousand  six  hundred  dollars.  This  he  accomplished 
though  to  begin  with  he  had  not  a  dollar  in  money, 
no  team,  or  stock  or  seed  ;  but  he  did  have  good 
health,  a  strong  will,  and  a  noble  mother  s  wise 
counsel  and  encouragement,  to  which,  he  was  ready 
to  listen  and  follow,  in  whose  welfare  he  has  always 
felt  the  most  tender  solicitude,  wlio  has  always  shared 
his  house  and  home,  and  still  survives  at  the  age  of 
eight}^  years,  enjoying  in   the  family  of  her   son   all 


3/52  PIONEER  HISTORY 

that  filial  affection  and  abundant  means  can  supply 
to  make  lier  old  age  liappy. 

In  1835  lie  purchased  the  farm  he  now  occupies, 
parts  of  lots  twenty -nine  and  thirty,  township  fifteen,- 
range  four,  in  Ridge  way,  containing  one  hundred  and 
ninety -two  acres. 

He  has  built  mills,  worked  a  stone  quarry,  and 
cultivated  his  large  farm  with  eminent  success  and 
become  wealthy. 

In  1852  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Commissioners 
by  the  Legislature  to  re-survey  the  Ridge  Road. 

He  has  held  various  civil  ofiices  in  the  gift  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 

He  has  been  three  times  married,  and  is  now  living 
with  his  third  wife,  Seraphine  M.,  daughter  of  the 
late  Joseph  Davis,  of  Ridgeway,  to  whom  he  was- 
married  January  13th,  1856. 

AMOS   BARRETT. 

Amos  Barrett  was  born  in  Chesterfield,  N.  H.,  May 
10th,  1778. 

In  1802  he  married  Lucy  Thayer,  and  soon  after 
settled  in  Fabius,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.  His  wife 
having  died,  he  married  Huldali  Winegar,  December 
20th,  ^1807. 

In  1811  he  bought  fifty  acres  of  land,  part  of  lot 
fifteen,  lying  one  mile  west  of  Ridgeway  Corners,  on* 
the  Ridge  Road. 

He  started  to  move  his  family  to  their  new  home' 
with  a  sleigh  and  horses  and  an  ox  team.  One  of 
his  oxen  broke  his  leg  while  being  shod.  He  made  a 
single  yoke  for  his  remaining  ox,  hitched  him  in  the 
team  beside  a  horse,  and  thus  performed  his  Journey, 
liis  team  attracting  much  notice  in  passing.  The 
yoke  is  preserved  as  a  valued  relic  by  his  cliil- 
dren. 

He  crossed  Genesee  river  on  the  ice,  and  arrived  at 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  853 

his  lot  in  Ridgeway,  Mairli  14t]i,  1812,  and  stopped 
with  his  neiglibor,  Jonathan  (Jobb,  in  liis  log  hoiiso, 
eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet  square,  which  on  this 
occasion  contained  tw(^nty-six  iinnates. 

Mr.  Barrett  soon  built  a  log  house  on  his  lot  and 
moved  into  that.  Snow  was  deep  that  spring.  He 
had  no  hay  ;  as  a  substitute  he  dug  up  a  few  brakes 
on  low  land  near  and  felled  trees,  on  which  his  ani- 
mals brows<?d,  the  pooi"  horses  hardly  surviving  on 
such   diet. 

In  June,  1813,  war  witli  Great  Rritain  was  declared 
and  Mr.  Barrett  went  with  his  neighbors  under  Capt. 
McCarty,  to  the  defense  of  the  frontier. 

During  this  war,  Mr.  Bari-e^t's  family  remained, 
while  many  others  tied  trom  the  country. 

Beginning  in  the  woods,  witli  lields  to  be  cleared  ot 
timber  before  they  could  be  made  ])roductive,  witli 
fever  and  ague  to  contend  with,  and  privations  of  so 
many  of  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  civilized  life 
to  be  born,  it  Avas  sometimes  hard  for  Mr.  Barrett  to 
meet  the  wants  of  his  somewhat  numerous  family 
with  the  needed  supjDlies.  Food  sometimes  ran  short, 
and  but  for  the  fish  in  the  streams,  and  game  from 
the  forest,  the}'-  might  have  had  more  suffering. 

Mr,  Barr(4t  had  a  fov/ling  piece  with  which  he  was 
a  dead  shot.  He  never  had  a  rifle  ;  and  a  trusty  steel 
trap,  which  did  good  service  on  occasion,  once  de- 
tained a  wolf  who  happened  ''  to  put  his  foot  in  it." 
Numerous  deer,  and  occasionally  a  bear  yielded  to 
his  prowess  as  a  hunt<^r,  nnd  furnished  meat  for  the 
family. 

Mr.  Barrc^tt  paid  three  doUais  per  acre  for  the  first 
fifty  acres  of  land  he  bought  He  had  the  sagacity  to 
foresee  that  the  price  of  lands  would  rise  as  settle- 
ments increased,  and  he  secured  to  himself  titles  to  a 
number  of  other  parcels  of  land,  and  realized  the 
rise  in  value  as  he  had  expected. 
23 


3,'54  PIONEER   HISTORY 

Mr,  Barrett  had  seven  sons  and  one  daughter,  all 
of  whom  he  lived  to  see  married  and  settled  around 
liim,  with  twenty-two  grand  children  to  perpetuate 
the  family. 

He  took  pleasure  in  the  last  years  of  his  life  visi- 
ting the  homes  of  his  children.  His  social  qualities 
made  him  a  Avelcome  guest  always  among  all  his  ac- 
quaintances, by  whom  he  w^as  familiarly  known  and 
addressed  as  "  Uncle  Amos." 

He  was  generous  and  kind  to  worthy  objects  of  his 
bounty,  but  the  profligate,  dishonest  and  idle,  found 
HO  favor  at  his  hands. 

He  was  a  pioneer  in  introducing  improved  modes 
and  implements  in  agriculture.  He  was  the  first  in 
his  vicinity  to  use  cast  iron  plows  in  place  of  the  old 
Dutch  plow.  A  tlireshing  machine  took  the  place  of 
the  flail  in  his  barn  at  an  early  day,  a  rude  im- 
])erfect  machine,  but  it  was  an  advance  in  the  right 
direction,  and  his  neighbors  were  induced  to  draw 
their  grain  to  his  machine,  and  thus  taught  its  labor 
saving  power. 

Mr.  Barrett  died  in  18G0,  in  the  eighty-second  year 
of  liis  age. 

SIDNEY     S.    BARRETT. 

Sidney  iS.  Barrett,  eldest  son  of  Amos  Barrett,  was 
lioi-n  in  Fabius,  N.  Y.,  May  8th,  1804.  He  came  to 
Ridgeway  with  his  father' s  family  in  March,  1812, 
and  resided  in  that  family  until  he  w^as  twenty-four 
years  old,  then  with  two  younger  brothers  he  bought 
{)art  of  lot  twenty- four,  township  fifteen,  range  four, 
In  Ridgeway.  He  worked  his  land  in  company  with 
these  brothers  for  five  or  six  years,  when  it  was  di- 
vided and  he  took  a  part  to  himself,  on  which  he  has 
ever  since  resided. 

He  maii-ied  Lydia  H.  Fox,  February  23d,  1832,  by 


•jM-S^SiVi^isX,. 


A         *%^ 


:  u^K< 


*af^Vj        ¥^      jj^  ^,     -^p 


/ 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  355 

wliom  he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  adult  age. 

WILLIAM   KNOWLES. 

Mr.  Knowles   was  born  in  Sandersfield,  Berkshire 

.  county,  Massachusetts,  July  19, 1790.    His  ancestors, 

for  several  generations,  had  been  residents   of  Cape 

Cod,  and  were  of  the  true  New  England,   Puritan 

stock. 

They  were  God-fearing  people,  of  deep  religious  sen- 
timent, and  strict  in  their  habits.  His  parents  brought 
up  their  family  of  nine  children  according  to  the  no- 
tions prevalent  in  those  days  among  the  descendants 
of  the  old  Puritans. 

The  school  house  and  the  church  were  prominent 
institutions  in  New  England  civilization,  and  Mr. 
Knowles  had  the  advantages  of  both,  as  they  were 
enjoyed  seventy  years  ago.  His  schooling  was  re- 
stricted to  the  district  school  of  that  time. 

In  December,  1813,  Mr.  Knowles  collected  his  ef- 
fects together,  purchased  a  span  of  horses  and  wagon, 
and  a  quantity  of  iron  and  steel  for  loading,  and 
started  to  go  to  the  Genesee  country,  where  three  of 
his  brothers  had  alread}^  located. 

On  his  way  west  he  stopped  at  Schenectady  and 
bought  eight  kegs  of  oysters  to  add  to  his  load.  He 
arrived  safely  at  the  house  of  his  brother  in  Kiga, 
January  5th,  1814. 

In  January,  1815,  he  came  to  Ridgeway  and  stop- 
ped at  the  house  of  an  old  friend,  Eleazer  Slater. 
He  took  an  article  of  lot  three,  township  fifteen,  range 
three,  on  which  the  village  of  Knowlesville,  so  named 
in  his  honor,  now  stands,  on  the  Erie  canal,  contain- 
ing 341  acres. 

In  March,  1815,  he  began  to  cut  down  the  trees 
aipon  his  land  so  purchased,  to  build  a  house,  then 


356  PIONEER  HISTORY 

more  than  a  mile  from  any  liouse,  or  highway  or  foot 
patli. 

The  spot  on  wliich  he  cut  the  lirst  tree  is  where  the 
residence  of  Mr.  li.  P.  Wood  now  stands.  In  due 
time  his  cabin  was  raised,  with  sides  of  logs,  roof  of 
staves,  or  shakes,  as  they  were  called,  fastened  to 
their  places  "by  poles  bound  crosswise,  with  a  floor 
of  basswood  logs  roughly  hewed  on  one  side. 

Mr.  John  Canifee,  having  a  wife  and  one  child  and 
no  house,  moved  into  the  new  house  of  Mr.  Knowles 
before  it  was  completed,  while  the  floor  was  only  half 
laid  down  and  a  blanket  was  used  for  a  door,  and 
lived  in  it  in  that  condition  for  two  weeks. 

Mr.  Knowles  hired  two  men  to  work  for  him,  one  of 
whom  had  a  wife,  who  was  their  housekeeper.     Du- 
]'ing  the  first   summer  this  woman,  Mrs.  Hill,  was  • 
taken  sick  and  died. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  roads,  no  barns,  no  pas- 
tures, and  none  of  the  modern  conveniences  for  living, 
in  the  settlement.  Mr.  Knowles  had  obtained  some 
cows  which  he  hired  kept  twO  miles  from  his  house. 
He  would  work  hard  in  his  clearing  all  day,  then  go 
two  miles  to  milk  his  cows  and  bring  the  milk  home 
in  pails  through  the  woods. 

The  death  of  Mrs.  Hill  was  a  sad  event  in  the 
wilderness.  It  rendered  the  log  cabin  desolate. 
The  men  Mr.  Knowles  had  hired  soon  left  him. 

In  November,  1815,  he  went  back  to  Massachu- 
setts, and  in  January,  1816,  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Baldwin.  They  came  on  to  the  house  Mr. 
Knowles  had  built.  Mrs.  Knowles  soon  accustomed 
herself  to  the  inconveniences  and  difliculties  of  her 
new  situation,  went  cheerfully  to  work  and  became  a- 
model  housekeeper.  The  inconveniences  of  house- 
keeping were  not  a  few. 

Mr.  Knowles,  on  his  way  home  with  his  wife,  had' 
purchased  a  set  of  chairs  with  splint  seats.     These  • 


OF   ORLEAN8    COUNTY.  357 

were  regarded  at  first  by  the  neighbors  as  a  great  liixii- 
r}^,  and  frequent  comments  were  made  by  them  nj)oii 
the  extravagance,  as  they  regarded  it  of  tlie  Knowh^s 
family.  But  if  the}^  did  indulge  a  little  in  the  matter 
of  chairs,  their  other  furniture  of  the  liouse  at  first  was 
sufficiently  primitive  to  satisfy  the  most  fastidious 
of  their  friends,  for  they  had  at  first  no  table  but  a 
board  x>^it  on  the  top  of  a  barrel.  Their  first  bed- 
stead was  made  by  boring  holes  in  the  logs  in  the 
side  of  the  liouse,  and  putting  in  rods  fastened  to 
pole  bedposts,  with  side  pieces  of  like  material. 

In  the  cold  summer  of  1816,  frost  in  June  killed 
the  corn,  rendering  the  prospect  gloomy  and  sad  for 
the  new  settlers,  but  the  wheat  crop  proved  good  in 
quality,  though  less  than  an  average  vield  in  quan- 
tity. 

In  the  summer  of  1816,  the  engineers  surveying  foi- 
the  Erie  Canal,  came  along  and  pitched  their  tent  on 
Mr.  Knowles  farm,  on  the  spot  where  Abell  &  Brace 
jiow  have  a  store,  stopping  there  a  week,  and  finally 
established  the  line  for  the  canal  through  the  centei- 
4)f  his  farm. 

The  canal  was  completed  to  Lockport  from  tlic 
east  in  1824. 

Mr.  KuowIgs  built  one  section  of  the  canal  a  little 
east  of  Holle}'. 

In  1825  he  built  the  lirst  framed  house  in  Knowles- 
ville,  on  the  south  side  of  the  canal,  in  which  he  kept 
a  hotel  for  several  years.  Afterwards  he  built  the 
brick  house  near  th(^  canal  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Main  street,  in  which  he  kept  a  temperance  hotel  for 
:several  years,  until  he  finally  closed  the  house  as  a 
tavern. 

Mr.  Knowles  built  the  first  warehouse)  in  Knowles- 
,ville,  in  1825. 

He  bought  and  shipped  the  first  boat  load  of  wlu^at 
^ever  shipped  from  Orleans  county. 


358  PI05TEER  HISTORY 

Mr.  Knowles  was  always  among  tlie  first  engaged 
in  all  public  enterprises  for  the  benefit  of  the  commu- 
nity in  which  he  lived. 

He  helped  build  the  first  school  liouse  in  Ills  dis- 
trict, which  was  made  of  logs.  This  served  also  as  a 
place  of  public  worship.  Here  ministers  of  various 
denominations  preached  the  gospel,  and  the  people 
flocked  to  hear  them  without  regard  to  sectarian  pre- 
judice or  partiality. 

In  1838  Mr.  Knowles  built  his  late  place  of  res- 
idence on  the  beautiful  eminence  in  the  west  part  of 
the  village,  and  north  of  the  canal. 

In  1830  the  brick  church  in  Knowlesville  was  erec- 
ted, Mr.  K.  furnishing  one-half  or  more  of  the  funds 
for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knowles  united  with  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  1820,  which  was  the  first  religious  so- 
ciety organized  in  Ridgewa}'^.  For  nearly  forty  3'ears 
he  has  been  a  ruling  elder  in  that  church. 

He  never  had  children  of  liis  own,  3^et  he  has  taken 
into  his  family  and  brought  up  and  educated  seven 
or  eight  children  of  others.  To  one  of  these  Rev.  I. 
O.  Fillmore,  he  gave  a  liberal  education,  sending  him 
to  college  and  theological  schools  to  fit  for  the  gospel 
ministry,  besides  granting  him  a  generous  allowance 
of  means  to  establish  himself  with  comfort  in  life, 
in  grateful  remembrance  of  which  favors,  so  bounti- 
fully and  disinterestedly  bestowed  by  Mr.  Knowles 
and  his  family,  Mr.  Fillmore  acknowledges  his  obli- 
gation, and  devotes  himself  witli  filial  duty  to 
make  the  last  days  of  his  kind  benefactor  as  happy 
as  possible. 

Mr,  Knowles  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  died  April  2d,  1861.  He  married  Mrs.  Mary 
Crippen  for  his  second  wife. 

H(;  has  sold  liis  large  farm  and  other  real  estate,  re- 
servin^^  only  a  liouse  and  lot   in  KnowlesviHe,  where 


OF   ORLEANS  COUNTY.  859 

he  resides,  relieved  from  the  cares  and  perplexities  of 
business,  calmly  awaiting  tlie  approach  of  death,  en- 
Joying  the  full  assurance  of  the  good  man's  hope. 

The  foregoing  is  the  substance  of  a  sketch  of  Mr. 
Knowles,  furnished  for  tlie  Orleans  County  Pioneer 
Association  by  his  adopted  son,  Eev.  1.  O.  Fill- 
more. 

AVERY   V.    ANDREWS. 

'*  I  was  born  in  Claremont,  New  Hampshire,  .July 
25th,  1798. 

In  1802  my  father  removed  to  Waterbury,  Vei- 
mont. 

In  October,  1817,  he  started  with  two  yoke  of  oxen 
and  a  wagon  to  move  his  family  to  western  New  York, 
and  after  traveling  thirty  days  arrived  at  Gaines, 
then  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.  I  was  then  eighteen 
years  of  age. 

In  the  fall  of  1819,  I  bought  an  article  for  fifty  acr^s 
of  land  in  Ridgeway,  and  in  1821,  I  bought  an  arti- 
cle for  sixty-two  acres  with  a  small  log  house  on  it. 
All  my  personal  estate  then  consisted  of  one  yokt^  o* 
steers  and  a  cow. 

I  lived  in  my  log  house  seventeen  years,  then  built 
a  dwelling  house  of  stone  in  which  I  now  reside. 

AVERY  V.  ANDREWS." 
Uidgeway,  June,  18CG. 

NANCY   G.  MASTEN. 

*'I  was  born  in  Warwick,  Massachusetts,  Septem- 
ber 2()th,  1796. 

I  was  married  to  Ephraim  G.  Masten,  at  .\lbany, 
N.  Y.,  November  15th,  1815. 

We  settled  in  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  N.  Y. 
In  1819  my  husband  came  to  Ridgeway,  Orleans  Co. , 
and  bouglit  an  article  for  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres   of   land    on  lot    seventeen,    townshi])   lifteen, 


360  TK^NKinj  HISTORY 

range  three,  then  in  a  wild  state,  cleared  three  acres 
.and  sowed  it  with  wheat,  and  in  November,  1819, 
moved  upon  his  land  with  his  family. 

We  lived  in  a  log-  house  until  in  1831  w(3  built  a 
dwelling  of  stone  on  the  site  of  the  old  log  hoiise. 
Mr.  Hasten  died  March  20th,  1840. 

NANCY  G.  HASTEN." 

Jlid^oway,  September,  ]80(>. 

lA'SANDEH   V.   <;koveh. 

''1  Avas  l)orn  in  Deej-tield,  Massachusetts,  Jan- 
uary, 22d,  1802. 

In  the  fall  of  1807,  my  fathiM-  moved  to  Phelps,  On- 
tario county,  I  being  then  in  m}'  sixth  year.  Here 
I  spent  my  boyhood  working  on  a  farm  summers 
and  attending  district  school  winters.  When  I  was 
twc^lve  years  old  my  father  sent  me  with  his  hired 
man  a  mile  and  a  half  into  the  woods  to  chop  cord 
wood,  and  on  my  t-welfth  birth  day  I  chopped  and 
])iled  on<^  cord  of  Avood,  and  well  do  I  remember  of 
biagging  of  my  exploit  vvlien  I  returned  home.  But 
idrate<iy^  of  which  we  hear  occasionally,  had  some- 
tliing  to  do  with  it,  for  I  got  the  hired  man  to  fall  an 
old  basswood  ti-ee  with  a  dead  top  for  me,  and  this 
helped  materially  to  make  out  my  ])ile. 

My  father  being  of  Green  Mountain  oiigin,  where 
men  were  born  with  iron  constitutions,  reqnired  more 
work  of  me  than  my  constitution  could  endure,  con- 
sequently when  I  was  about  nineteen  years  old,  I  be- 
came physically  unable  to  labor. 

In  1823  I  went  to  school  at  an  acadeni}'  in  (leneva, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  I  obtained  a  teacher's  cer- 
tificate. Thus  accoiitered,  and  with  little  knowledge 
of  the  WMjrld,  and  still  less  of  its  lucre,  I  emerged  as 
a  pedagogue  which  occupation  I  followed  with  an  in- 
crease both  of  success  and  wages. 

f^Mnding  this  business  irksome  and  by  no  means  de- 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  361 

sirable  for  life,  I  resolved  upon  a  profession.  AVlien 
consulting  with  friends  for  a  choice  it  was  thought 
my  piety  did  not  come  up  to  the  ministerial  standard, 
and  I  had  neither  the  conlidence  nor  imjmdence  to 
warrant  success  as  a  lawyer,  therefore  the  only  al- 
ternative was  I  must  be  a  physician,  which  I  resolved 
to  be. 

I  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  James  Carter,  of  Gene- 
va, and  attended  medical  lectures  in  the  city  of  New 
York  in  the  winter  of  1827-8,  and  returned  in  the 
spring  to  Geneva,  with  just  six  cents  capital  in  my 
pocket  witli  which  to  start  in  business. 

In  January,  1829,  I  located  for  practice  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Alloway,  in  the  town  of  L^^ons.  Tliere,  with 
a  capital  all  borrowed,  except  the  aforesaid  six  cents 
which  I  had  not  encroached  upon,  did  I  start  out 
with  saddle  bags  well  tilled,  full  of  confidence  of 
success.  I  stuck  up  my  tin  and  was  ready  foi- 
business. 

It  was  in  the  healthy  season  of  the  year,  and  no- 
body would  get  sick  to  accommodate  me,  or  test  the 
efficienc}^  of  my  drugs,  or  my  ability  in  prescribing 
them.  And  it  was  even  more  than  hinted  that  tlie 
hlues  were  lurking  about  me. 

But  at  length  l)y  patient  industry  I  eventually  ac- 
{[uired  a  good  and  lucrative  practice  as  a  phj'sician. 
and  how  well  I  have  acquitted  myself  in  my  profes- 
sion, and  in  such  other  business  as  I  have  been  en- 
gaged in,  I  leave  for  others  to  decide. 

I  had  not  |)liysical  stamina  sufficient  to  enable  me 
to  enter  tli(^  wilderness  and  hiy  low  its  primeval  for- 
ests, supplant  the  ferocious  bears,  and  prowling  and 
howling  wolves, — or  to  build  log  houses,  and  occupy 
them,— therefore  I  am  scarcely  entitled  to  have  my 
name  enrolled  among  the  real  settlej-s  and  early  pio- 
neers of  Orleans  coimty  fifty  years  ago,  my  onh' 
claim  being  that  I  swung  the  ax  in  nn-  bovhood  davs 


362  pioj^teer  history 

in  Ontario  county,  and  also  that  I  have  cleared  some 
land  by  proxy  in  Orleans  connty. 

October  3d,  1831,  I  married  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Howard,  of  Alloway,  Wayne  county,  N.  Y.  I  car- 
ried on  my  professional  business  in  connexion  with 
merchandising,  until  in  1844,  Ii-emoved  to  Alexander, 
Genesee  county,  and  in  February,  1845,  I  moved  to 
Knowlesville,  on  the  farm  on  which  I  now  reside. 
Here  I  have  practiced  medicine  but  little,  keeping  a 
drug  and  book  store,  and  superintending  my  farm. 

My  wife  died  April  8th,  1847,  and  I  married  for  a 
second  wife,  Mrs.  Eliza  Ann  Browii,  xVugust  12th, 
1858. 

I  have  failed  to  get  rich,  being  too  timid  to  make 
any  bold  and  great  business  strikes,  having  too  great 
a  development  of  the  organ  of  cautiousness  to 
secure  the  avails  of  any  great  far-reaching  enter- 
prise. 

To  sum  up  the  events  of  my  historj^  in  short,  in  my 
boyhood  I  was  a  farmer,  then  a  teacher,  then  a  clerk, 
next,  a  student  of  medicim^  after  that  a  doctor,  then 
a  merchant. 

I  have  run  an  ashery  and  a  distiller}^  for  which  lat- 
ter business  I  trust  I  am  now  sufficiently  penitent.  I 
have  kept  a  drug  and  book  store,  and  am  now  living 
quietly  on  my  faim  in  Knowlesville. 

LYSANDER  C.  G ROVER." 

Knowlesville,  January  21, 18U7. 

KDWIX      V.    HEALY. 

''  My  father  moved  from  Massachusetts  to  Marcel- 
lus,  N.  Y.  in  1805. 

I  was  born  in  Marcellus,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y., 
April  14th,  1812,  and  was  brought  up  at  labor  on  my 
father's  farm  until  I  became  a  man. 

I  taught  school  four  years,  then  studied  med- 
icine,   and  graduated    in   my   proft^ssion    in    1837, 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  363 

and  settled  to  practice  in  Cortlandville,  N.  Y.  In 
1838  I  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Thomas,  of  Skane- 
atelas,  and  began  housekeeping  immediately. 

I  practiced  my  profession  eighteen  j^ears,  then  from 
failing  health  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  removed  to  Medina,  N.  Y.,  in  1856, 
and  engaged  in  the  business  of  selling  drugs  and 
medicines,  which  I  still  follow. 

EDWIN  p.  HEALY." 

Medina,  April,  1867. 

MILO   COON. 

Milo  Coon  was  born  in  DeRuyter,  IST.  Y.,  Novem- 
ber 4th,  1799. 

His  father,  Hezekiah  Coon,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  He  came  to  Ridge  way  in  1809,  and  took  an 
article  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  one  mile  east  of 
Ridge  way  Corners,  upon  which  he  moved  with  his 
liimily  September  29tli,  1811. 

When  he  settled  here  his  neighbors  were  Ezra  D. 
Barnes,  Israel  Douglass  and  Seymour  Murdock. 

Milo  Coon  married  Edith  L.  Willets,  August  31st, 
1823. 

PETEK   IIOAG. 

Peter  Hoag  was  born  at  Independence,  New  Jer- 
sey, December  3d,  1794. 

In  1804  he  came  with  his  famih^  to  Parmington, 
Ontario  county,  N,  Y.  From  that  time  until  Octo- 
ber, 1815,  he  labored  on  a  farm,  or  went  to  school,  or 
kept  school.  In  October,  1815,  he  took  up  a  lot  of 
land  in  Ridgeway  and  built  a  log  house  on  it,  into 
which  lie   moved   his  family  in  March,  1816. 

About  the  year  1838  he  disposed  of  his  lot,  bought 
part  of  lot  nineteen,  township  fifteen,  range  three,  on 
whicli  he  resides  with  his  son  Lmvis. 

Mr.  Hoag  married  Hannah  Vanduser,  March  15th, 
1815.     She  died  August  18th,  1831. 


364  PIONEEll   IIISTOKY 

He  married  Maria  Douglass,  January  nth,  1832. 
Slie  died  March  20th,  1866. 

His  children  are  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy.  Zach- 
ariali  married  INIaria  Temple,  and  resides  in  Michi- 
gan. James,  who  married  Elizabeth  Slade,  resides 
in  Kendall.  Eansom,  who  married  Melvina  Porter, 
resides  in  Medina.  Marj',  who  married  Sylvester 
Gillett,  resides  in  Bergen.  Lyman  died  in  infancy. 
William  L.,  who  married  Clara  Bigford,  resides  in 
Wisconsin.  Charles  Henr}^,  who  married  Minerva 
Powers,  resides  in  Wayne  county,  N.  Y.,  and  Lewis 
H.,  who  married  Sarah  Hoag,  and  resides  on  his  pa- 
tei'nal  homestead. 

DAA'ID   irooD. 

"I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Tarbot,  Pennsylvania, 
August  2d,  1794. 

In  1797  my  parents  removed  to  Seneca,  X.  Y.,  town 
of  Romulus.  We  had  many  hardships  and  priva- 
tions to  endure,  the  country  being  new  and  we  so  fai' 
from  school  and  religious  meetings.  Our  land  was 
heavily  timbered  and  required  a  great  deal  of  hard 
w^ork  to  get  it  in  a  condition  to  till.  AVo  had  to  go 
ten  miles  to  mill. 

I  went  to  school  after  I  was  nine  or  ten  years 
old,  what  I  could,  and  worked  on  tli*^  farm  sunmiers 
until  in  September,  1813,  I  was  drafted  for  a  soldier, 
being  tlien  nineteen  years  old,  and  went  to  Fort 
C-feorge,  in  Canada,  which  had  been  taken  In*  our  for- 
ces in  the  spring  before. 

I  was  three  months  in  tlu^  iH'i'O?  '^^^^  ^''"'^^  then  dis- 
charged. 

I  continued  with  TU}' parents  until  1816,  when  I  came 
to  the  town  of  Ridgeway  and  worked  one  summer  for 
a  brother  of  mine  who  had  located  one  mile  south  of 
Knowlesville.     The  next   spring  T  bought   an  article 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  365 

for  one  Inindred  and  nineteen  acres  of  land,   upon 
which  I  went  to  work  ch^aring. 

The  title  to  the  farm  on  which  my  father  had  re- 
sided and  labored  for  twenty  years  in  Seneca  count}^ 
})roved  bad  and  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  it, 
leaving  him  almost  penniless,  and  he  came  to  the  town 
of  Shelby  and  began  again  anew. 

I  bnilt  a  honse  on  my  land  in  Eidgeway,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1818. 

In  May,  1819,  I  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Burroughs,  daughter  of  David  Burroughs,  of  Shelby, 
and  in  June  alter,  we  moved  into  my  house  npon  my 
farm,  on  which  farm  I  liave  resided  now  forty-seven 
years. 

I  worked  ni}-^  farm  and  my  wife  took  good  care  of 
things  about  the  house,  and  so  we  prospered  as  well 
as  any  of  oni-  neighbors.  T  built  my  first  barn  in 
1820. 

Presbyterian  churches  were  organized  at  Oak  Or- 
<;liard  Creek,  and  at  Millville  at  an  early  day.  In 
the  year  1831  a  Church  edifice  was  erected  b}^  the 
Presbyterians  at  Knowlesville. 

During  these  years  so  long  ago,  although  our  labor 
was  hard  and  fatiguing,  yet  we  performed  it  with 
cheerfulness  and  in  hope.  Our  neighbors  knew  no 
broils,  families  were  all  peaceful  and  friendly  with 
each  other,  kind  and  attentive  in  sickness,  even  unto 
death. 

Thus  we  toiled  on  irom  y(\ar  to  year,  tlie  forest  gradu- 
ally retiring  b(^fore  us,  and  giving  place  to  fruitful 
fields,  and  gardens,  and  orchards,  yielding  a  gene- 
rous reward  for  our  labors. 

I  built  a  new  house  which  I  finished  in  1835,  but 
our  old  log  house  was  like  a  sacred  spot,  cherished 
in  our  memories. 

Since  occupying  my  present  residence  I  have  seen 
the    present   wilderness    exchanged   for    cultivated 


366  PIONEER  HISTORY 

land,  filled  with  the  habitations  of  industry.  I  have 
witnessed  the  introduction  into  our  county  of  those 
great  works  of  improvement,  the  Erie  Canal,  the 
Railroad,  and  the  Electric  Telegraph,  and  now,  in 
the  evening  ot  my  days,  I  am  enjoying  a  competence 
of  this  world's  goods  for  my  comfort,  expecting  soon 
to  pass  over  the  'river,'  where  I  hope  to  meet  not 
only  the  pioneers  of  the  woods  here,  but  all  who  are 
here  'seeking  a  better  country,' 

DAVID  HOOD." 
Ridgeway,  January,  1865. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


THE   VILLAGE    OF   MEDINA. 

Saw  Mill  by  Land  Company — Evan's  Grist  Mill — Canal  Feeder — Nix- 
on's Brewery — Coan's  Store — First  Tavern — First  Merchants — Phy- 
sician— Attorney — Quarries — Justus  IngersoU — Baptist  Meeting 
Tlouse. 


HE  territoi-}'  included  in  the  village  of  Medi- 
na was  mainly  covered  with  forest  trees  when 
work  was  begun  here  on  the  Erie  canal. 

Mr.  Joseph  Ellicott  had,  at  an  earl}'^  day,  located  a 
large  tract  of  land  here  of  the  Holland  Land  Compa- 
ny, including  the  rapids  in  the  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
but  settlement  was  commenced  at  Shelby  Center,  no- 
body at  that  time  expecting  a  village  would  grow  up 
here. 

Mr.  Samuel  F.  Gear  built  a  sawmill  lor  the  Hol- 
land Company  or  Mr.  Ellicott,  on  the  falls  in  the  Oak 
Orchard  Creek,  in  Medina,  about  the  year  1805,  and 
about  the  same  time  the  Salt  Works  were  established 
at  the  brine  springs,  north  of  the  village.  This  mill 
was  a  cheaply  constructed  affair.  No  roads  leading 
to  it  were  made,  and  before  the  war  of  1812,  few  set- 
tlers located  here.  They  could  not  get  their  logs 
to  the  mill  for  the  distance  and  bad  roads.  The  mill 
was  not  kept  in  repair  and  soon  tumbled  into 
ruins. 

Mr.  Ellicott  rented  out  the  salt  works,  but  working 
them  was  impracticable,  and  not  much  salt  was  made 
there  until  the  springs  came  into  possession  of  Isaac 
Bennett  in  1818. 


HG8  PIONEEK  HISTOKY 

Mr.  Sylvanus  Coan  opened  the  first  store  in  18245- 
before  tlie  canal  was  finislied,  and  some  small  estab- 
lislmients  for  selling  goods  to  those  working  on  the 
canal  soon  followed,  but  the  opening  of  navigation 
was  the  signal  for  commencing  the  improvement  of 
the  water  power  on  the  Creek  and  bnilding  np  tho 
town. 

In  May,  1825,  David  E.  Evans  laid  the  foundations 
of  his  large  llouring  mill,  afterwards  owned  by  Wil- 
liam R.  Gwynn,  standing  on  the  race  near  the  rail^ 
road. 

This  mill  was  built  of  stone,  John  Ryan  master 
mason,  and  finished  in  1820.  It  was  finall}'  l)urned 
in  December,  1859. 

The  State  of  New  York  built  a  dam  in  the  creek 
at  the  time  the  canal  was  dug,  and  made  a  raceway 
to  carry  the  creek  water  into  the  canal,  as  a  feeder'* 
This  race  proved  too  low  for  the  purpose  and  was 
abandoned. 

In  1825  Mr.  Evans  made  an  arrangement  with  the 
State,  under  which  he  raised  a  dam  higher  up  the 
stream,  and  connected  this  by  a  raceway  to  the 
canal.  Evans  drew  water  from  this  raceway  to  turn 
his  mill,  and  sold  water  power  to  othei-s  to  be  drawn 
from  his  race. 

Joseph  Nixon  built  a  brewery  here  about  the  year 
1827.  After  a  few  years  it  was  turned  into  a  distille- 
ry, and  malt  liquors  or  whisky  were  made  there  for 
several  years. 

This  brewery  was  burned  three  times,  and  the  site 
is  now  occupied  by  Bignall  &  Co.  as  a  foundry. 

Uri  D.  Moore  kept  the  first  hotel,  on  Shelby  St., 
in  1824. 

Ashael  Wooodruff  and  brothei-  were  merchants 
here  in  1826. 

John  Ryan,  mason,  settled  here  in  1827 ;  Simeon 
Downs,   blacksmith,  in  1825  ;  Dr.  Rumsey, 


OF   ORLEJ^XS   OOUNIT.  369 

the  first  regular  pliyyiciaii,  in  1827.     Dv.  Lathrop  fol- 
lowed soon  after, 

Tlie  first  attorney  was  Nathan  iSaw^er.  The  first 
carpenter,  Samuel  F.  Gear,  The  first  iron  founder 
was  Simeon  Bathgate. 

The  postofhce  was  established  in  Medina  in  1829, 
and  Justus  Ingersoll  was  the  first  postmaster, 

David  Ford  and  John  Parsons  were  tinsmiths. 
Otis  Turner, and  Chase  andBritt  were  grocers.  Clark 
and  Fairman  were  early  merchants. 

The  first  fire  company  was  organized  August  16tlj, 
1832, 

The  first  bell  in  a  stee})le  was  raised  on  tlio  Presby 
terian  Church  in  1836, 

This  was  the  first  bell  in  the  village,  and  the  only 
church  bell  between  Albion  and  Lockport  for  several 
years.  It  was  rung  a  number  of  times  every  day  to 
regulates  the  hours  of  labor  and  rest  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. 

A  town  clock  was  afterwards  procured  and  plact^d 
in  the  steeple  of  the  Methodist  Church,  to  serve  in  the 
place  of  so  much  bell  ringing.  The  clock  proving  a 
poor  machine  was  soon  given  up. 

Justus  Ingersoll,  who  had  been  Ji  tanner  in  Shelby, 
moved  to  Medina  in  1826,  and  built  a  large  brick 
building  for  a  tannery  west  of  the  creek,  near  th«- 
the  canal. 

This  was  afterwards  convertcnl  into  a  fiouring  mill, 
and  burned  December,  1858. 

Mr,  Ingersoll  was  justice  of  the  peace,  postmaster,' 
Indian  agent    and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  the   county,  and  an   active  man  in  villaire 
affairs. 

The  first  religious  society  organized  in  Mediiia  wais 
the  Episcopalian. 

**St,  John's  Church   in  Medina,"  filed  a  ct>rtificat^ 
24 


:>70  I'loxEEU  iirsTOKV 

of  incorporation  in  the  county  clerk's  office  nnder 
that  name  November  12tli,  1827. 

Rev.  Richard  Salmon,  missionary-,  was  then  in 
charge. 

Bishoj)  Hobart  held  the  first  Episcopal  service  by  a 
IMshop  in  Orleans  county,  in  this  church  Septem- 
ber 7th,  1828. 

The  coi'porate  officers  of  the  church  for  its  first 
3ear  were  Justus  IngersoU  and  Richard  Xan  Dyke, 
Wardens. 

Christopher  Whaley,  Elijah  Beech,  John  B.  Elli- 
cott,  Joseph  Nixon,  Henry  Yerrington,  Benjamin  W. 
Van  Dyke,  Jonas  S.  Billings  and  Hezekiah  R.  War- 
ner, Vestrymen. 

Mr.  David  E.  Evans  gave  the  church  a  piece  of 
land  on  which  to  erect  their  church  edifice,  the  foun- 
dations of  which  were  laid  in  1831. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  this  build- 
ing, in  the  basement,  on  Christmas  Eve,  1832. 
Josluui  M.  Rogers  w^as  the  minister. 

The  house  was  finished,  and  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Onderdonk,  September  80th.  183G,  where  it  now 
stands,  on  Center  street. 

The  Methodists  filed  a  certificate  to  incorporate  a 
society  by  name  of  ''The  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Society  in  Medina,"  October  1st,  1830. 

They  filed  another  certificate  altering  their  name, 
among  other  things,  April  7tli,  1834. 

They  commenced  building  their  house  of  worship 
of  stone,  in  1833.  In  raising  the  roof  the  timbers 
gave  way  and  eleven  men  fell  in  the  ruins.  No  one 
was  killed,  some  bones  were  broken. 

The  basement  of  this  house  was  finished  and  iised 
in  1834,  but  it  was  several  years  before  the  whole 
house  was  completed. 

This  house  was  taken  down  and  rebuilt  in  1850, 
and  thoroughh'  repaired  in  1869. 


OF   OKLEAIVS   COUNTY.  371 

The  Baptists  tiled  a  certiticate  to  incorporate  "The 
First  Baptist  Church  and  Society  in  Medina,"  ]\rar(!h 
14th,  1831. 

Their  first  house  of  worship  was  a  huildin<:i:  i)iit  np 
for  a  barn  in  the  rear  of  tlie  hrick  hotel,  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Center  and  Shelby  streets.  This  was 
lathed  and  plastered  and  seated,  and  used  for  reli- 
gious meetings  until  their  tirst  meeting  house;  wjis 
dedicated  in  the  winter  of  1832. 

Their  new  church  on  the  corner  of  West  and  Cen- 
ter streets  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1870. 

The  Presbyterians  built  the  lirst  building  designed 
for  religious  worship  in  Medina,  on  the  north  side  of 
Cross,  near  the  corner  of  West  street. 

Deacon  Theophilus  Cook  commenced,  alone  and 
unaided, getting  out  the  timber  for  tliis  house.  See- 
ing his  zeal  showing  itself  in  faith  and  work.'i,  Mr. 
Ephraim  Scovill  Joined  him  in  the  work.  Others  fol- 
lowed with  their  labor  and  contributions,  till 
a  building  about  thirty  by  forty-live  feet  was 
erected,  in  which  the  Presbyterians  worshipped  from 
about  1830,  to  February  17th,  1836,  when  their  l\^^^■ 
church  edifice  was  dedicated. 

The  first  house  was  then  used  for  school  })urposes 
several  years,  wdien  it  was  sold  to  the  Konian  (Jatho- 
lics,  who  moved  it  upon  the  same  lot  with  their 
church,  built  an  addition  to  it,  and  it  is  now  thei]- 
school  house. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  with  se\  - 
enteen  members,  March  19th,  1829. 

The  Presbyterian  Society  was  incorporat<'d  August 
27th,  1831,  by  name  of  "The  Trustees  of  the  first 
Society  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Medina." 

The  first  printing  press  in  Medina  was  set  u])  in 
the  fall  of  1832,  and  the  first  newspaper  called  "Me- 
dina Herald,-'  published  by  D.  P.  Adams. 

After  the  Erie   canal   was  located  and   survived 


372  PIONKLIt   HISTORY 

through  Medina,  aiteiition  was  called  to  this  place  as 
the  probable  site  of  a  village,  and  about  the  year 
1823,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Mix  surveyed  and  laid  out  the 
village  for  the  proprietors  and  named  it  Medina. 

Mr.  John  B.  Ellicott,  a  relative  of  Joseph  Ellicott, 
was  sent  here  by  the  proprietors  to  superintend  their 
interests,  as  local  agent. 

Mr.  Artemas  Allen  came  to  Medina  in  1822,  and 
was  the  first  mason  who  settled  in  the  village.  He 
had  charge  as  master  mason  in  building  the  aqueduct 
for  the  Erie  canal  on  Oak  Orchard  Creek. 

The  stone  for  this  work  were  mainly  obtained  from 
the  bank  of  the  creek  north  of  the  canal.  The  re- 
maining stone  were  from  Shelby  Center,  or  Claren- 
don, and  a  few"  from  LockjDort. 

Mr.  Allen  built  a  large  brick  tannery  and  dwelling 
house  for  Justus  Ingersoll,  and  a  large  stone  build- 
ing called  the  Eagle  Hotel,  which  was  burned  some 
years  ago. 

Mr.  Allen  claims  he  first  discovered  the  quany  of 
llaging  stone  at  Medina,  got  out  the  first  flags,  and 
laid  a  number  of  rods  of  sidewalk  in  front  of  the 
residence  of  David  E.  Evans  in  Batavia. 

The  stone  from  which  the  water  lime  used 
on  the  aqueduct  was  made  were  obtained  be- 
tween Medina  and  Shelby  Center,  burned  on  log 
heaps,  and  ground  with  an  upright  revolving 
stone. 

Mr.  Artemas  Allen  removed  to  Coldwater,  Michi- 
gan, where  he  is  now  living. 

The  village  of  Medina  was  incorpoitited  March  3d^ 
1832. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


THE   VILLAGE   OF  KN0WLE3VILL?:. 

Wra.  Knowles,  Founder  aucl  First  Settler — First  Clcarins- — First 
Framed  House — First  Tavern — First  Warehouse — First  Boat  Load 
of  Wheat — First  Ashery — First  School  House — Post  Office — First 
Religious  Society. 

-""^     XOWLESYILLE.    situate    on     the   eastern 


bounds  of  the  town  of  Ridgeway,  as  at  pres- 
ent Ibounded,  owes  its  existence  to  the  Erie 
canal.  When  work  was  begun  on  the  canal,  but 
two  or  three  families  had  located  on  the  ground  now 
covered  hy  the  village. 

Mr.  A\'illiani  Knowles,  the  pioneer  and  founder  of 
the  village,  was  the  first  settler.  He  took  uj)  from 
the,  Land  Company  and  settled  upon  lot  three,  town- 
ship fifteen,  range  three,  in  the  winter  of  1815. 

Sliortiy  after  Jolm  Caniff  took  up  one  hundi-ed 
acres  of  tlie  nortli  part  of  lot  fift^'-nine,  in  town- 
ship fifteen,  range  three,  adjoining  Mr.  Knowles'  hind 
and  east  of  it. 

The  first  tree  cut  on  the  site  of  Knowh-sville  stood 
where  the  residence  of  R.  P.  AVood  now  stands,  and 
was  felled  in  Marcli,  181.").  There  Mr.  Knowles  built 
the  first  log  cabin,  in  Avhicli  he  resided.  He  hired  a 
Mr.  Hill  to  work  for  him  in  clearing  land,  and  his 
wife  was  their  house-keeper.  In  course  of  that  sea- 
son, 181i"),  Mrs.  Hill  died,  being  the  first  ])erson  wlio 
died  in  what  is  now  Knowlesville. 

The  Erie  canal  was  finished  from  Lockport  to  Roch- 
ester a  yeJir   or  two   bei'ore  it  was  comph^ted   from 


374  TIOXKKli   HISTOKY 

Loc.kpoi't  to  Biiiialo  ;  l)ut  as  this  long  level  had  to  be 
fed  mainly  by  watei-  let  into  it  from  Genesee  River, 
it  was  impossible  to  raise  the  water  in  the  western 
part  more  than  two  or  three  feet  deep  ;  but  even  then 
some  little  llat-bf)ttomed  boats  were  run  through  to 
Rochester  regularly  to  carry  passengers  and  light 
parcels,  before  the  water  was  let  in  from  lake  Erie  to 
Jill  the  canal. 

In  1825  Mr.  Knowles  built  the  tirst  framed  house, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  canal,  and  west  side  of  Main 
street,  yet  standing,  in  which  he  kept  the  first  tavern, 
for  several  years.  Afterwards  he  built  the  first  brick 
house  erected,  near  tlie  canal,  and  north  from  his  old 
tavern  house,  and  kept  a  tavern  some  time  there. 

Mr.  Knowles  built  the  first  warehouse  in  1825,  and 
Ml'.  Wm.  Van  Dorn  kept  the  Jirst  store  in  Knowles' 
warehouse. 

Nathan  S.  AVood  opened  the  second  store  in 
1825-6. 

In   1827   Mr.    Knowles    bought    twenty   thousand  ' 
Tnishels  of  whf^at  at  Knowlesville.     The  lii-st  boat  he 
loaded  with  this  wheat  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
boat  load  of  grain  shipped  from  Orleans  county  by 
canal. 

Moses  Huxley  kept  the  first  grocery  store  on  the 
canal  in  1825.  Philo  Dewey  kept  a  grocery  here  in 
1880. 

The  lirst  tanner  and  shoemaker  was  Andrew 
Ik^tts. 

The  first  blacksmitli  was  Daniel  Batty.  'I'he  first 
carpent<*r  and  joiner  was  Andrew  Ryan. 

Mr.  Knowles  built  an  asheiy  in  1816.  He  manu- 
factured a  little  potash;  afterwards,  for  about  four 
years,  he  used  his  works  solely  for  making  black 
salts,  wliich  he  sold  to  .Tann^s  Mather  and  others  at 
Gaines. 

Tile  lirst    school    house    was  built  of  Iolj-s  in  1817. 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  370 

and  stood  a  little  north  of  where  a  brick  school  house 
was  afterwards  built,  on  the  west  side  of  the  street, 
north  of  the  canal. 

The  post  office  was  established  here  in  1826.  It 
became  necessary  to  give  the  village  and  x)ostofRce  a 
name.  The  inhabitants  met  together  and  i-equested 
Mr.  Knowles  to  give  the  name,  and  he  called  it  Port- 
ville.  It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  there  was 
already  a  postoffice  in  Xew  York  named  Portville, 
and  the  name  was  then  changed  to  Knowlesville. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  first  organized  after 
the  Coiigregational  form,  by  Rev.  Eleazer  Fairbanks, 
Avitli  eleven  members,  Aug.  27,  1817.  In  June,  1820, 
it  united  with  the  Presbytery  of  Rochester,  and 
since  then  has  been  Presbyterian  in  its  form  of  Ctov- 
ernment. 

This  was  the  first  religious  society  organized  in  tlie 
present  town  of  Ridgeway,  and  as  such  received  the 
deed  of  the  "  Gospel  Lot,-'  so  called,  of  one  hundred 
acres  given  by  the  Holland  Land  Company.  The 
first  fourteen  years  of  its  existence  its  meetings  for 
worship  were  held  in  the  school  houses,  and  some- 
times in  the  dwellings  of  its  members  in  this  part  ol 
the  town. 

Their  first  public-  house  of  worship,  now  standing 
in  Knowlesville,  was  built  of  brick,  and  dedicated 
in  1832. 

The  first  Baptist  meeting  house,  and  the  first  Metli- 
odist  meeting  house,  which  was  afterwards  burned, 
were  erected  in  1833. 

The  village  of  Oak  Ondiard,  on  the  Ridge  Road, 
in  Ridgewjiy,  was  the  principal  village  in  town  be- 
fore the  Erie  Cjinal  was  made.  After  the  canal  was 
completed  Oak  Orchard  began  to  decline,  and 
Knowlesville  took  the  trad<\  })opulation  and  busi- 
ness. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 


run   TOWN   OF   SIIKLBT. 

•lo.  Ellicott  liocatlng  Land — Ellicott's  Mills — Road  from  Oak  Orchard 
Ttoad  to  Shelby — Salt  Works  Road — Anecdote  of  Luther  Porter — 
Col.  A.  A.  Ellicott— Rail  in  Ellicott's  Mill— Abuer  Hunt— Fiddler 
Elackett — First  Ph5'sician — Post  Office — Iron  Foundry — Tannery — 
Biographies  of  Early  Settlers. 


HELBY  was  set  off  from  Kidgewa}',  March 
6tli,  1818,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  Gover- 
nor Blielby,  of  Kentucky. 
In  surveying  the  Holland  Purchase  for  the  propri- 
etors, Mr.  Joseph  Ellicott  noticed  those  tracts  of  land 
that  seemed  to  possess  pc^culiar  advantages,  and  lo- 
cated some  of  the  best  for  himself.  The  falls  on  the 
Oak  Orchard  Creek  attracted  his  attention  as  afford- 
ing a  good  site  for  mills,  and  he  laid  off  for  himself 
and  purchased  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  here  in 
a  bod}^  including  this  water  power.  At  an  early 
day  he  located  some  of  his  relations  here  and  fur- 
nished means  to  begin  a  settlement  and  improve  the 
water  power,  and  in  tlie  year  1812  lie  built  a  sawmill, 
and  in  1813  a  gristmill,  under  the  supervision  of  Ids 
nephew,  Col.  Andrew  A.  Ellicott. 

To  tacilitate  the  groAvth  of  this  settlemeut,  the  Elli- 
cotts,  with  the  aid  of  the  Holland  Company,  opened 
the  first  highway  from  Shelby  Cc^ntor  east  to  intersect 
the  Oak  Orchard  lload  in  Barre,  and  the  Holland 
Company  built  the  Salt  Works  Road  from  tlu^  Brine 


OF   ORLEAIN^S   COUNTY.  377 

Springs.  North  of  Medina,  one  branch  of  wliidi  led 
sonth-west  through  Shelby,  to  the  Lewiston  Road. 

The  mills  first  built  at  Shelby  Center  were  small, 
coarse  and  clumsy  aftairs,  which,  when  driven  to 
their  utmost  capacity  for  work,  could  not  supply  all 
the  wants  of  tlie  settlers. 

The  little  grist  mill  was  generally  crowded  with 
customers  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  some  coming 
many  miles.  And  at  seasons  when  the  water  was 
low  it  could  not  do  half  the  grinding  required,  and 
grists  sometimes  lay  weeks  at  the  mill  before  they 
were  ground. 

Late  in  the  summer  one  year  when  the  water  was 
lowest  in  the  creek,  Luther  Porter,  of  Barre,  then  a 
boy  fifteen  years  of  age,  was  sent  there,  some  ten 
miles,  to  mill  with  two  bags  of  grain,  on  horseback, 
and  told  by  his  father  to  stay  till  he  got  his  grist. 
^Vrriving  at  the  mill,  Luther  hitched  his  horse  and 
went  in.  He  saw  the  mill  full  of  bags,  unground, 
and  a  number  of  men  waiting  their  turns,  and  con- 
cluding at  the  rate  things  moved  it  was  likely  to  br 
several  days  before  his  tuiii  would  come,  he  resolved 
to  try  a  little  strateg}'-  to  get  his  meal  sooner.  Sa}'- 
ing  nothing  to  anybody  he  unloaded  his  bags  on 
some  lumber,  Jind  watching  his  oportunity  when  the 
miller  had  put  in  a  fresh  grist  and  gone  out  to  wait 
upon  his  customers  at  a  little  grocery  he  carried  on 
near  by  in  connexion  with  his  mill,  he  carried  his 
bags  into  the  mill,  nobody  seeing  him,  and  set  them 
back  in  a  i-etired  place  among  tlie  most  dusty  bags  in 
the  mill,  collected  some  mill  dust  and  sifted  it  care- 
fully over  and  about  his  bags  and  the  place  where 
he  set  them.  This  done,  lie  %\'aited  the  return  of  tlie 
miller,  and  going  to  him  asked  very  innocen,tly  if  his 
grist  was  ground  ;;  ''  When  did  3'ou  bring  it  here  f 
said  the  miller,  ''Oh,  a  great  while  ago,"'  says  Lu- 
ther. 


378  PIONEEK   TMSTOKY 

The  millor  liad  forgotten,  said  lie  would  look.  Lu- 
tlier  went  and  helped  thid  the  bags.  The  miller  see- 
ing the  dust,  said  they  had  accidentally  been  over- 
looked, bnt  if  he  would  put  ont  his  horse  and  stop 
at  his  house  he  would  try  and  put  them  through  be- 
fore the  n(^xt  morning. 

Luther  staid  of  cours(\  the  work  was  done,  and  by 
daylight  next  inorning  he  started  for  home  with  his 
meal. 

"  Col.  Andrew  A.  Ellicott  was  the  jjatroon  of  Shelby 
A'illage.  He  is  remembered  for  his  many  acts  of 
kindness  to  the  new  settlers,  and  especially  for  the  in- 
terest he  took  in  the  welfare  of  tli(^  Indians  at  Tona- 
wanda.  He  was  adopted  into  their  nation,  under  the 
Indian  name  of  ''Kiawana,"  which  means  ''a  good 
man.''  He  often  lieli)ed  them  to  bread  in  seasons  of 
scarcity. 

Col.  Ellicott  removed  from  Batavia  with  his  fam- 
ily to  reside  in  Shelby,  in  1817.  He  had  been  em- 
ployed with  his  uncle,  Joseph  Ellicott,  in  surveying 
the  Holland  Purchase. 

He  built  a  second  grist  mill  at  Shelby  Center,  or 
Barnegat,  as  it  was  then  called,  about  the  yenr  1819. 
It  was  afterwards  burned.  AVhen  this  mill  was  fin- 
ished it  t3ontained  the  largest  and  best  floor  for  dan- 
cing then  in  town,  and  the  young  people  of  Shelb}' 
and  vicinity  used  it  for  the  hrst  haJl  in  town.  It  waF 
several  times  afterwards  used  T)y  dancing  parties,  a 
man  by  name  of  Ilackett,  who  resided  in  Shelby, 
furnishing  the  music  on  a  violin. 

The  young  people  werc^  A'ery  fond  of  dancing,  and 
got  up  parties  to  enjoy  that  amusement  frequently 
whenever  they  could  find  a  floor,  and  whenever  they 
could  secure  the  services  of  Hackett  with  his  violin. 
If  he  was  not  to  b(^  had  they  managed  with  such 
other  music  as   thev  could  g(4.  and   sonu'   of  the  old 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  870 

people  yet  remember  attending  parties  at  an  early 
clay  in  this  neighborhood,  and  dancing  riglit  merrily 
to  the  mnsic  of  a  Jewsharj). 

Col.  Ellicott  died  in  [September,  1839. 

The  first  birtli  in  Shelby  was  that  of  Asa  Coon, 
son  of  Alexande]'  Coon,  senior,  Febrnary  14th, 
1811. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  William  Bennett,  Oc- 
tober 4th,  1812. 

Tlie  first  tavern  was  kept  by  Daniel  Timniejinan. 
in  181(5,  and  tli(^  first  storn  by  Christian  Grolf  in 
1818. 

The  first  school  was  tanght  by  Cornelins  i\shton  iu 
thewinter  of  1815-1 G. 

In  the  winter  of  1819,  in  order  to  get  money  to  pay 
his  taxes,  Abner  Hunt  threshed  wheat  for  John  Burt, 
lor  every  tenth  bushel. 

The  work  was  done  on  the  fiooi-  of  a  log  barn  ten  by 
eighteen  feet  and  the  chaft'  was  separated 
from  tlie  wheat  with  a  hand  fan  made  of  boards. 
Mr.  Hunt  cariied  his  share  of  the  wheat  on  his  baclv 
two  miles,  and  sold  it  to  Micah  Harrington  for  twen- 
ty-five cents  a  bushel. 

The  first  regular  physician  who  settled  in  Slu4by 
was  Dr.  Cliiistopher  Wlialey,  who  came  in  1819.  Dr. 
George  Norton  came  soon  after. 

The  fij'st  postofiice  in  town  was  at  Shelby  CentiM-, 
and  the  first  ])Ostmaster  was  Colonel  Andr«*w  A.  Eh 
licott. 

.John  A'an  Brocklin  built  and  carried  on  a  small 
iron  foundry  at  Siielby  Center,  al^out  1821-2  wliich  is 
said  to  be  tlio  first  iron  foundiy  estal)]ishtMl  in  tiu' 
county  of  Orleans. 

Justus  Ingersoll  built  and  carried  on  ;i  tannery  in 
Shelby  about  1821. 


i>80  PIONEER  HISTOKY 

BIOGRAPHIES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

THE   GKEGOKY    F.V:\tILY. 

Among  the  old  families  in  Orleans  county,  none  are 
better  known  or  more  favorably  considered  than  the 
Gregory  family,  of  Shelby.  Of  Scotch  descent, 
Ralph  Gregory  removed  from  Fairlield,  Vermont,  to 
Shelb}',  in  1810,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
a  farmer  and  bi'ought  up  his  six  sons  to  the  same 
calling. 

Mr.  Gregor\\  the  father,  died  in  1837.  His  six  sons 
still  survive  and  live  in  or  near  Shelby,  except  Philo, 
who  moved  to  Michigan  ten  years  ago. 

Brought  u])  in  habits  of  industry  and  strict  econo- 
my, they  have  each  acqui]\Hl  a  competence  of  prop- 
erty, and  are  enjoying  a  serene  and  quiet  old  age, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  know  them.  It  is 
rare  that  so  large  a  family  of  brothers  livt?  together 
so  long,  and  the  Gregor}'  Brothers  may  be  referred 
to  for  proof  that  in  this  good  land  of  ours,  perseve- 
rance and  energy  will  achieve  success,  and  health 
and  long  life  made  happy  will  very  surely  be  attained 
by  those  who  liv(^  worthy  of  such  rewards.  Ex- 
tracts from  the  local  history  of  two  of  the  bi'others 
are  as  follows  : 

AMOS  <;im:<;;okv. 

•'1  am  fourth  son  of  lialph  (in^gory.  1  was  born 
in  Fail-field,  Franklin  county,  AV'rm<uit,  April  18th, 
1790. 

In  the  winter  of  1817,  my  lalluM-  widi  his  family  re- 
moved to  what  is  now  Shelby,  Orleans  county,  N^  Y. 
On  that  Jouriuy  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  drive  tlie  team  of 
two  yoke  of  Oxen  attached  to  a  wooden  shod  sled. 
We  were  on  the  road  from  February  5th  to  April  3d, 
niaking  some  stops,  waiting  for  snow  and  to  recruit. 
The  gi-eatest   distance  trav(?led   in   any  one   day  was 


OF   OKLEANS   COUNTY.  381 

twenty  miles,  and  tliat  was  on  the  ice  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain. 

But  in  the  closing  np  of  our  journey  we  were  three 
days  getting  from  four  or  tive  miles  north  of  Batavia 
to  our  stopping  place  I  married  Betsey  Wyman, 
April  5th,  1818. 

AMOS  GREGORY." 

M A1"J"  1 1 VAV   G IlEG ORY. 

''I  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Vermont.  April  10,  1802, 
being  the  yOungest  of  seven  sons.  I  was  a  cripple 
in  my  feet  and  aiikh^s  from  birth.  I  did  not  walk 
until  I  was  four  years  old.  My  crippled  condition 
and  my  extraordinaiy  birth,  being  a  '  seventh  son,' 
occasioned  mv  being  called  while  a  boy,  'doctor.' 
This  title  was  peculiarly  annoying  to  me.  This  and 
the  drunkenness,  profanity  and  iniidelity  which  char- 
acterized some  of  the  faculty  with  whom  I  was  early 
acquainted,  i)rejudic*^d  my  mind  strongly  against  the 
medical  profession.  I  liave  lived  to  find  honorable  ex- 
ceptions to  this  character  among  som<j  of  the  profes- 
sion I  have  since  known. 

My  only  sister  died  before  she  w  as  quite  live  years 
old. 

In  tlie  early  part  of  September,  1815,  there  were 
severe  frosts  destroying  the  crops  before  they  had 
matured.  This  so  discouraged  ni}^  two  oldest  broth- 
ers, who  then  had  families  living  a  few  miles  distant 
from  each  other,  that  they  told  my  father  they  were 
done  with  Vermont,  and  had  determined  to  seek  theii- 
fortunes  in  tlie  west. 

At  their  suggestion,  and  in  order  to  keep  his  famil}* 
together,  my  father,  then  fifty  years  old,  consented 
to  go  with  them,  patriarch  like,  to  seek  for  himself 
and  family  'a  better  country.'  He  accordingly  took  a 
saddle  horse  and  visited  the  Genesee  country,  and 
spent  some  six  weeks  in  vewing  the  entire  region, 


882  PIONEER  HISTORY 

when  he  returned  liome  bringing  in  a  favorable  report 
of  the  land. 

This  was  hailed  with  joy  by  iis  all  except  my 
mother,  who  was  much  attached  to  her  old  home. 
Houses  and  lands,  and  everything  else  too  cumber- 
some to  carr}"  were  disposed  of,  so  that  by  the 
first  of  February,  1816,  we  were  on  our  way  to  the 
far  famed  Genessee. 

Our  caravan  consisted  of  two  four  ox  teams,  each 
attached  to  heavy  wooden  shod  sleds,  starting  on  the 
5th,  and  a  two  liorse  team  starting  on  the  6th.  We 
had  good  teams,  but  we  had  a  tedious  journey.  The 
most  of  the  way  the  sleighing  was  bad.  From  White- 
hall to  near  Auburn,  our  sleds  had  to  be  newly  shod 
♦-very  other  morning,  and  from  Aubui-n  west  we  had 
to  mount  our  sleds  on  wheels. 

After  refreshing  ourselves  awhile  with  friends  in 
Gorliam,  Ontario  county,  we  came  on  to  Batavia  and 
there  made  another  stop.  It  was  now  about  the  mid- 
dle of  March,  and  the  younger  boys  went  to  work, 
while  m}^  father  and  the  two  eldest  of  his  sons  went 
out  to  look  for  land.  The  place  where  we  stopped 
was  about  four  miles  north  from  Batavia,  and  is  now 
called  I)awes  Corners. 

My  father  located  a  farm  for  himself  on  Maple 
Ridge,  in  Shelby,  paying  one  hundred  dollars  for 
his  '  chance '  on  one  hundred  acres,  and  buying  ar- 
ticles of  land  in  the  vicinity  for   hisjsons. 

On  the  third  of  April  we  again  started'on  our  jour- 
ney, and  arrived  at  our  new  home  near  the  close  of 
the  third  day,  a  short  journey  this  last,  but  a  very 
wearisome  one.  I  was  then  about  thirteen  years 
old. 

When  we  arrived  at  our  future  residence,  we  had 
no  shelter  for  men  or  beast.  Orange  Wells  and  Sam- 
uel Wyman  had  located  in  that  neighborhood  in  the 


OF   ORLEANS  COUNTY.  383 

spring  j)revious  and  made  small  improvements,  and 
built  log  houses. 

Through  the  hospitality  of  Mr.  Wells,  we  were 
kindly  sheltei-ed  for  a  week,  by  which  time  we  had 
built  a  cabin  for  ourselves. 

Our  oxen  could  very  well  live  on  browse,  but  our 
horses  after  standing  one  night  tied  to  a  brush 
lieap,  looked  so  sorry  that  my  father  took  them  back 
to  Batavia. 

We  were  all  happy  when  we  got  into  our  new 
house,  not  a  costly  edihce  like  those  dwellings  of 
some  of  our  rich  neighbors  of  the  present  day,  but 
made  of  rough  unhewn  logs,  notched  down  together 
at  the  corners,  shingled  with  rough  hemlock  boards, 
with  Joints  broken  and  battened  with  slabs  round 
side  up,  the  floor  made  of  split  basswood  logs  spotted 
upon  the  sleepers,  and  flattened  on  the  top,  leaving 
an  open  sj^ace  at  one  end  for  the  Are  place  on  the 
ground,  the  end  of  the  floor  planks  affording  a  con- 
venient seat  for  the  children  around  the  fire,  in  the 
absence  of  Chairs  and  sofas. 

Our  first  work  was  to  fell  trees  around  our  dwell- 
ing, burn  off  the  brush  and  logs,  and  enclose  a  patch 
of  land  for  a  garden  and  a  fruit  nursery,  my  father 
having  brought  a  small  bag  of  apjile  seeds  from  Ver- 
mont. 

We  procured  ])eacli  stones  in  Ontario  (;ounty. 
This  was  in  the  spring  of  1816.  Four  families  had 
wintered  near  our  location,  but  on  the  opening  of 
spring  neighbors  came  in  frequently,  and  the  forest 
resounded  with  the  sound  of  the  woodman's  ax  and 
the  crash  of  falling  trees. 

Among  the  names  of  settlers  who  had  located  in 
our  neighborhood  about  the  time  of  which  I  have 
spoken,  I  remember  Elijah  Bent,  Alexander  Coon, 
Oliver  R.  Bennett,  James  Mason,  Lec^nard  Dresser, 
AndrcAv  Stevens,  AVilliam  Knowles,  William  C.  Tan- 


884  PIOXEKK    JIISTOIJY 

iier,  Josias  Tanner,  Elijali  Foot,  Poter  Hoag,  Stephen 
Hill,  Franklin  Bennett,  Micali  Harrington,  Daniel 
Fuller,  Daniel  'I'immeiraan.  William  Dunlap  and 
Kliziir  Frar_y. 

Tiiere  was  a  will  and  indomitable  courage  enter- 
tained on  the  part  of  the  settlers,  but  it  was  exceed- 
ingly difficult  for  them  to  obtain  money  for  the  com- 
mon necessaries  of  life. 

Mr.  Hiel  Brockway  bought  a  lot  in  this  vicinity, 
and  sent  on  Mr.  Calvin  C.  Phelps  (now  of  Barre)  to 
chop,  (;lear,  and  sow  with  wheat  ten  acres  of  land. 
He  boarded  with  Mr.  Wells.  To  him  Mr.  Brockway 
would  send  barrels  of  pork,  flour,  and  whisky,  the 
last  of  which  was  considered  in  those  days  about  as 
much  of  a  necessary  as  pork  or  flour,  for  him  to  sell 
to  the  inhabitants. 

This  was  a  relief  to  many,  and  saved  the  buyers 
much  time  in  looking  np  their  supplies  and  trans- 
porting them  home. 

At  one  time  my  father  paid  Mr.  Phelps  eleven  dol- 
lars for  as  much  pork  as  he  could  carry  away  in  a 
peck  measure.  I  don't  recollect  the  number  of 
pounds. 

At  another  time  h(^  paid  Elijah  Bent  twenty-five 
cents  a  pound  for  pork. 

By  the  first  of  June  in  the  year  vre  came,  we  had  driv- 
en the  woods  back  from  the  house  in  one  direction 
thirty  or  forty  rods.  The  brush  was  burned  off  and 
the  ground  planted  with  corn  among  the  logs.  This 
was  in  181G,  known  as  '  the  cold  season,'  when  snow 
fell  in  every  month  in  the  year  but  two,  with  frost 
every  month.  Consequently  we  raised  but  little 
corn,  and  even  that  was  saved  in  an  unmatured 
condition.  We  were,  however,  with  much  care,  able 
to  make  passable  meal  from  some  of  it. 

The  little  wheat  sown  the  fall  before  yielded  boun- 


OK   ORLEANS   COFNTY.  ^]8& 

tifully,  l3ut  tlit^  suppl}^  not  being  eqnal  to  the  demand, 
owing  to  tlie  large  emigration  of  people  into  the 
country,  scarcity  and  high  prices  pi-evailed  hefore 
the  next  harvest. 

With  no  small  a  supply  to  be  obtained,  roads  so 
new  and  rough,  ])riees  high,  settlers  poor,  and  their 
best  and  almost  only  means  of  conveyance  an  ox 
team,  it  is  no  wonder  much  suffering  and  want  pre- 
vailed. 

My  father  Jiad  one  liorse,  and  he  assumed  the  office 
of  commissary  of  subsistence  in  ])art,  for  the  whole 
settlement,  and  acted  as  mill  boy  for  the  family- 
He  would  ride  al)Out  the  countrj^  to  find  grain,  some- 
times getting  a  grist  near  Batavia,  the  next  on  the 
Ridge  Road,  between  home  and  Rochester.  Not- 
withstanding my  fathi^rs  faithful  efforts,  we  would 
sometimes  come  sliort  tor  food,  then  our  good  mother 
would  put  us  on  'half  i-ations.' 

At  one  time  our  supplies  were  completely  exhauH- 
ted.  We  had  been  expecting  our  fatlier  home  all  day, 
^vitll  his  bushel  grist  perhaps,  but  he  did  not  come 
and  we  went  nearly  supperless  to  bed,  expecting  he- 
would  arrive  before  morning. 

Morning  came  but  fatliei-  did  not.  ^ye  hoped  he 
would  conu^  soon,  and  took  our  axes  and  went  to 
work,  but  our  axes  were  unusually  Iwany.  Faint 
and  slow  wei'e  the  blows  we  struck  that  morning. 
While  w<^-  boys  were  trying  to  chop,  mother  sifted  a 
bag  of  bran  we  had  and  made  a  cake  of  the  finest, 
which  she  brought  out  to  us  during  the  forenoon. 
We  ate  this  which  stayed  us  up  till  noon,  when  father 
came  and  brought  us  plenty  to  eat,  sucli  as  it  waw. 
Variety  was  not  to  be  had  in  those  times. 

In  course  of  this  season  most  of  the  lands  near  my 
fathers  were  located  by  a  hardy  and  energetic  popu- 
lation, mostly  from  New  England. 

By  the  fall  most  of  the  occupied  fai-ms  had  their 

26 


386  PIONEER   HISTORY 

fallows,  of  from  tliree  to  twenty  acres  iu  extent,  ready 
for  sowing.  This  crop,  though  sowed  among  roots 
and  stumps  of  trees,  produced  a  j^ield  of  from  thirty 
to  fifty  bushels  per  acre. 

This  bountiful  return,  together  with  a  fair  corn 
crop,  placed  us  above  want  and  fully  satisfied  us 
with  the  countr}^  we  had  adopted  as  our  home.  Pen- 
ding this  harvest  there  was  great  scarcity  of  provi- 
sions, but  neighbor  lent  to  neighbor  ;  the  half  layer 
ot  meat  and  loaf  of  bread  was  divided,  while  for 
weeks  many  families  subsisted  on  boiled  potatoes 
and  niiliv,  and  sucli  vegetables  as  the  forest  af- 
forded. 

When  the  earliest  patches  of  wheat  were  cut  and 
threshed,  there  w^as  no  mill  to  grind  nearer  than 
Rochester.  There  were  mills  on  the  Oak  Orchard 
Greek,  but  the}-  were  of  such  construction  there  was 
not  water  at  that  season  sufficient  to  turn  them. 
I^eighbors  would  join  together  and  send  a  team  to 
Rochester  to  carry  grists  to  mill  for  them  all  at 
oncf'. 

In  many  instances  green  wheat  was  boiled  whole 
and  eaten  with  milk.  I  ate  of  it  and  thought  it  good. 
The  products  of  this  harvest  exceeded  the  wants  of 
the  producers  for  their  bread,  and  as  we  had  no  high- 
ways on  w^hich  we  could  send  our  grain  to  market, 
we  w^ere  restricted  in  our  sales  mainl}"  to  new  comers 
who  had  not  time  to  raise  a  crop.  A  bushel  of  wheat 
was  the  price  of  a  day's  work  of  a  man,  and  he  was 
considered  luck}'  who  had  an  opportunity  to  sell 
wheat  foi*  mone}',  at  even  a  low  price. 

On  tlie  lirst  day  of  July,  1817,  wheat  Avas  worth 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  a  bushel  in  Orleans  coun- 
ty, and  in  the  winter  next  after  farmers  drew^  their 
wheat  to  Rochester  with  ox  teams,  a  journey  round 
faking  three'  davs  or  more,  and  sold  it  for  from  twen- 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  887 

ty-five  to  tliirty-one  cents  a  bushel  in  mone}',  and  \v  e 
felt  that  was  "better  than  to  go  home  hungry. 

In  consequence  of  my  lameness  my  parents  did 
not  design  that  I  should  be  a  farmer,  but  Providence 
seemed  to  order  otherwise.  M}^  privileges  and  means 
for  obtaining  an  education  were  limited,  and  to  tlie 
business  of  felling  tlie  forest,  clearing  land,  and  reap- 
ing the  harvest  I  became  much  attached,  so  that  even 
to  the  jDresent  day,  the  ax  and  the  sickle  are  in}-  fa- 
vorite tools. 

At  one  time  I  came  near  entering  as  clerk  in  a  drug- 
store, but  the  proprietor  proved  to  be  a  worthless 
character,  broke  down  and  ran  away.  No  other 
business  appearing  to  offer  for  me,  I  accej)ted  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  which.  I  have  followed  ever 
since,  now  residing  on  the  homestead  of  my  father. 

The  lirst  school  taught  in  our  neighborhood  was 
by  Miss  Caroline  Fuller,  of  Batavia,  in  the  summer 
of  1817.  The  next  winter  we  had  a  full  school  taught 
by  Mr.  J.  N.  Frost,  of  Riga.  I  taught  school  niyself 
two  terms  before  I  was  twenty- one  years  old.  When 
I  was  twenty-one  years  old  I  was  elected  constable, 
which  office  I  held  three  years  in  succession.  Since 
then  I  have  held  a  few  offices  both  in  tov>n  jind 
county,  but  never  depended  upon  the  lees  of  office 
for  my  su^^port.- 

I  was  married  April  20th,  1828,  to  Maiy^  A  Potter, 
daughter  of  Wm.  C.  Potter,  of  Shelby. 

My  mother  died  April  4th,  1832,  aged  05  years, 
and  my  father  died  April  20th,  1837,  aged  seventy- 
two  years. 

My  father  was  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  connexion  with  Rev.  Jas. 
Carpenter,  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  he  labored 
faithfully  to  plant  and  foster  the  j^rinciples  of  evan- 
gelical truth  in  the  minds  of  a  people  otherwise  most- 
ly destitute  of  religious  instruction. 


388  PIONEEK  HISTORY 

I  have  been  connected  with  the  temperance  organi- 
zations of  all  sorts  that  have  been  established  here  in 
the  last  thirty  years. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  I  was  led  to  embrace 
the  Savior  of  the  world  as  niv  Savior,  and  from  that 
time  through  much  unworthiness,  I  have  been  en- 
deavoring to  hold  on  my  way,  trusting  that  the  merits- 
of  Christ  will  avail  for  my  short  comings. 

MATTHEW  GREGORY." 
Millville,  January,  1863. 

DAVID     DE-AIAIIA, 

David  Demara  was  born  in  Albany  county,  Octo- 
ber 26tli,  1808,  and  removed  with  his  father's  family 
to  Shelby,  in  1811.  His  father  first  located  in  the 
woods  two  miles  from  any  house,  built  a  log  house 
fourteen  bj^  f^ixteen  feet,  covered  it  with  bark  ^  and 
moved  into  it,  without  floors,  doors,  or  windows. 
He  left  the  county  in  1813,  on  account  of  the  war, 
and  returned  in  1815. 

David  Demara  married  Maria  Upham,  April  12th, 
1837.  She  was  born  in  Ward,  Massachusetts,  March 
29th,  1814. 

ABRAM    BIDELMAN. 

"  I  was  born  March  10th,  1800,  in  Manheim,  Mont- 
gomery county,  N.  Y. 

In  January,  1817,  I  removed  with  my  father's  fam- 
ily to  Ridgeway,  Orleans  county.  We  built  a  log 
house  and  moved  into  it  in  the  month  of  March. 
While  building  our  house,  and  just  previous  to  put- 
ting on  the  roof,  a  large  tree  fell  upon  the  building, 
and  cost  us  much  labor  to  remove  it  and  repair 
damages. 

Cornelius  Asliton  and  John  Timmerman  had  set- 
tled ^\^thin  half  a  mile  of  my  father's  location  when.' 
we  came  in. 


*  OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  389 

My  father's  family  consisted  of  my  father  and 
mother  and  ten  children.  When  he  moved  here,  he 
was  to  all  intents  and  jjurposes,  poor,  I  do  not 
think,  besides  a  pair  of  old  ordinary  horses  and  a 
cow,  my  father  could  boast  he  was  worth  other  prop- 
erty worth  fifty  dollars.  I  worked  out  to  help  sup- 
port the  family  until  1  was  twenty-one  years  of 
•age. 

I  married  Miss  Lucinda  Michael  in  1824.  My 
father,  Henry  Bidelman,  died  in  1860,  aged  eighty - 
two  years. 

In  March,  1818,  snow  fell  about  two  feet  deep;  next 
day  it  thawed,  and  a  frost  following  made  a  haid 
crust  on  the  snow.  On  this  James  Woodward  and 
myself  resolved  to  have  a  day  hunting  deer.  We  made 
snow  shoes  from  a  seasoned  board,  which  enabled  us 
to  walk  on  the  crust  with  ease.  We  were  attended  b} 
a  small  dog,  and  armed  each  with  a  common  pocket 
knife.  We  soon  started  a  fine  buck  from  his  browse 
in  a  fallen  tree  top,  the  dog  gave  chase,  and  after  a 
few  bounds,  in  which  the  deer  broke  through  the  crust 
to  the  ground,  lie  stood  at  bay.  We  rushed  upon 
the  deer  with  our  knives  and  cut  his  throat.  AYe 
soon  started  another  deer,  which  we  killed  in  the 
same  manner.  So  we  brought  in  two  deer  in  about 
an  hour.  Our.  success  so  animated  George  Holsen 
burgh,  a  neighbor,  thathe  joined  us  in  another  hunt. 
In  our  second  hunt  we  had  not  gone  far  into  the  Avoods 
before  we  started  as  large  a.  buck  as  I  ever  saw.  The 
dog  soon  brought  him  to  a  bay.  Holsenburgh,  who 
was  a  quick,  athletic  man,  rushed  up  to  the  head  of 
the  deer  with  intent  to  seize  his  horns,  when  he  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  fore  foot  of  the  animal  which 
laid  open  his  clothing  from  his  chin  down,  as  if  cut 
by  a  knife.  The  hoof  took  the  skin  off  upon  his 
breast,  and  left  a  visible  mark  down  his  body.  Hol- 
senburgh was  terribly  alarmed   at  this  change  in  af- 


890  PIONEEK  HISTORY 

fairs.  He  turned  pale,  and  retired  from  the  contest 
he  was  so  prompt  to  commence.  Woodward  and 
myself  went  to  the  rescue,  and  quickly  despatched 
the  deer  as  we  had  done  the  others.  Our  friend  Hol- 
senburgli  liad  had  sufficient  experience  of  that  kind 
of  deer  hunting  to  satisfy  him,  and  \ye  went  in  w4th 
our  game.  Woodward  and  ra3'self  went  out  again 
the  third  time  and  brought  in  two  more  deer,  making 
five  in  all  killed  by  us  in  one  day. 

In  March,  1822,  I  helped  the  contractor  Avho  had 
taken  a  section  of  canal  to  dig  where  Medina  now 
stands,  build  a  log  cabin.  We  cut  our  trees  for  the 
building  on  the  ground  now  the  site  of  the  village. 
We  finished  our  cabin  in  five  and  a  half  days.  I 
then  engaged  to  work  for  tlie  contractor  half  a  month 
for  six  dollars  and  fifty  cents  and  be  boarded.  Our 
work  was  digging  for  the  canal.  The  first  two  days 
we  had  fifteen  hands,  and  the  third  day  about 
fifty.  We  were  allowed  a  liquor  ration.  Mr,  Eggles- 
ton,  the  contractor,  brought  in  on  an  ox  cart  from 
Rochester,  three  barrels  of  vvdiisky  among  other 
stores  to  use  on  his  job.  Of  tliis  each  man  was  al- 
lowed one  gill  a  day. 

At  this  time  I  Avas  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of 
whisky,  and  I  with  the  others,  drank  my  first  al- 
lowance. I  v/ill  not  here  attempt  to  de- 
scribe its  efi'ects.  Suffice  it  to  sa}',  it  was  the  first 
and  last  liquor  ration  I  ever  drank.  I  sold  the  re- 
mainder of  my  whisk}^  rations  to  those  who  were  fa- 
miliar with  their  use,  at  three  cents  each. 

Tn  the  year  1828  I  built  for  myself  a  log  house 
twenty  feet  square,  into  which  I  moved  my  family, 
liaving  but  one  room  which  we  used  for  kitchen  and 
parlor,  dining  room,  bedroom,  &c.  Our  furniture 
was  such  as  pioneer  farmers  in  this  country  usually 
posssessed,  viz.:  a  loom,  'quill  wheel  and  swifts, 
great  wheel  and  little  wheel  for  spinning,  necessary 


OF  orlea:n's  county.  891 

"bedding,  seven  chairs,  n  table  and  a  cradle,  with  a 
few  exceedingly  plain  culinary  utensils,  v/hich  Avere 
indispensible  to  our  comfort. 

For  many  years  my  wife  manufactured  our  clotli- 
ing,  both  woolen  and  linen,  w^ove  our  own  cover- 
lets and  blankets,  and  hundreds  of  yards  for  our 
neighbors. 

ABRAM  BIDELMAN." 

Shelby,  October,  18G6. 

Mr.  Abram  Bidelraan  died  June  8th,  1868. 

.T0T]IA]\r   MORSE. 

"I  w^as  born  in  Providence,  Saratoga  count}^  N. 
Y.,  Juno  14th,  1793. 

I  was  married  to  Dorcas  Ferris,  August  15th,  1814. 
I  hired  a  njan  to  move  me  to  Ridgeway,  agreeing  to 
pay  him  forty  dollars  for  it.  Our  outfit  consisted  of  a 
good  tepan  of  horses  and  wagon,  as  there  was  no 
snow  then.  My  family  consisted  of  my  mother,  my 
wife  and  two  children. 

After  we  had  been  two  or  three  days  on  the  road, 
a  'thaw'  came  that  compelled  us  to  stop  a  w^ek. 
The  earth  then  became  frozen  and  w^e  wTnt  to  Palmy- 
ra, when  one  horse  gave  out.  I  bought  another  horse 
for  forty-five  dollars,  paid  my  watch,  a  far  h.at,  and 
a  pair  of  boots,  for  thirty-tAvo  dollars,  and  gave  my 
note  for  the  thirteen  <lollars,  and  with  my  three  horse 
team  went  on  to  Rochester,  which  then  consisted  only 
of  a  few  log  buildings,  one  of  which  was  a  tavern 
where  we  stopped.  On  examining  here  I  found  our 
only  bed  had  been  stolen.  I  afterwards  found  it 
pawned  at  Palmj'ra  by  the  thief  and  had  to  pay  two 
dollars  and  a  half  to  get  it  again.  We  came  by  the 
Ridge  Road  to  West  Gaines,  where  Ave  found  an 
empty  shanty  and  moved  into  it.  I  Avent  to  Batavia 
through  Shelby  and  procured  an  article  of  a  piece  of 
land  Avest  of  Eagle  Harbor,  and  returned  in  one  dav 


393  PIONEKll    illSTORY 

as  far  as  Millville.  It  snowed  hard  all  that  day,  and 
T  think  I  did  a  good  day's  work,  traveling  so  far 
through  tile  woods  on  foot.  I  acknowledge  my  steps 
were  some  hurried  by  seeing  tracks  of  wolves  in  the 
snow,  and  seeing  some  evidences  of  a  bloody  encoun- 
ter the}'  had   had. 

I  bought  a  three  year  old  heifer  and  x^aid  for  her 
chopping  three  acres  of  timber,  and  fitting  it  for  log- 
ging, going  three  miles  to  the  place  where  I  did  my 
work. 

In  time  of  liaying  and  liarvest  I  walked  to  Palmyi'a 
and  worked  there  three  weeks  to  hiiy  pork  and 
wlieat  for  my  family.  The  next  fall  I  mo\ed  into  a 
log  house  I  had  built,  and  felt  at  home.  The  next 
yeai- 1  had  a  little  trial  such  as  was  (•onim.on  to  pio- 
neer settlers  in  those  days.  It  was  before  harvest. 
My  cow  had  lost  her  bell,  and  had  been  gone  in  the 
woods  eight  days.  We  were  destitute  of  provisions, 
except  a  small  piece  of  bread,  some  sugar,  and  some 
vinegar.  I  went  to  the  nearest  place  where  fiour  was 
HOld  and  could  get  none.  On  my  I'eturn  \v-e  gave  the 
last  nu)rs^'l  of  bread  to  our  children.  I  picked  some 
potato  tops  which  my  wife  boiled  and  we  ate,  dress- 
ing them  with  vinegar.  Our  empty  stomachs  would 
not  retain  this  diet.  We  S2)eedily  vttmited  them  up 
and  retii'cd  supperless  to  l)ed.  Early  n^xt  morning 
I  arose  and  went  to  my  neighbors  a  mile  away,  and 
thev  divided  their  snuill  store  of  Hour  with  nu'.  I 
carried  it  home  and  my  wife  speedily  salted  some 
water  and  made  some  pudding,  which  we  ate  with 
maple  sugar,  and  this  seemed  t(;  me  to  be  truly  the 
best  meal  of  victuals  I  ever  ate.  I  felt,  even  in  this 
straight,  the  words  of  Solomon  to  be  true:  ''Better 
is  a  dinner  of  herbs  where  love  is,  than  a  stalled  ox 
and  contention  therewith."' 

Another  inctident.  Myself  and  immediate  neigh- 
bors were  destitute  of  flour.    I  had  monev  wliich  I  had 


OF   OKLEANf?   COUNTV.  393 

taken  in  exchange  of  land,  so  a  neighbor  took  me 
with  liis  team  and  wagon  to  Hanford's  Landing,  at 
the  mouth  of  Genesee  river,  to  purcliase  flour.  I  bought 
six  barrels  of  Hour  and  one  barrel  of  salt  and  took 
out  my  money  to  pay  for  it.  Mr.  Hanford,  the  man 
of  whom  I  had  made  my  purchase,  divided  the  money 
I  handed  him  into  piles  of  about  thirty-six  dollars 
in  eacli  pile,  after  doing  which  I  was  astonished  to 
hear  him  accuse  me,  in  an  angry  tone,  of  being  a 
dealer  in  counterfeit  mone3^,  and  to  learn. that  he  had 
condemned  about  one-half  of  what  I  had  paid  him. 
He  ordered  a  man  in  his  employ  to  go  immediately 
to  Kochester  and  procure  Ji  precept  for  my  arrest.  I 
felt  alarmed,  and  that  I  was  in  trouble.  I  knew  not 
what  to  do,  but  God,  who  is  ever  watchful  over  those 
who  put  their  trust  in  Him,  was  with  me.  While 
things  were  growing  more  threatening,  a  gentleman 
whom  I  had  never  seen  but  once  before  came  up,  and 
after  learning  the  facts,  strongly  condemned  Mr.  Han- 
ford\s  course.  The  money  was  again  examined,  and 
only  about  nineteen  dollars  found  bad.  Tliis  was  re- 
placed by  (uirrent  funds,  and  we  were  then  allowed 
to  return  to  our  homes  in  peace. 

This  supply  carried  the  settlement  through  until 
harvest,  and  by  tlie  blessing  of  Heaven  and  our  own 
industry  and  ecoiiomy,  we  have  been  saved  fr(un 
such  destituti(m  until  the  present  time. 

I  hav(^  seen  llie  wilderness  disappear,  and  ))eauty 
and  civilization  spriug  up  in  its  place  around  m>\  1 
have,  in  conunon  with  mankind,  diank  of  the  cap  of 
affliction,  perhaps  more  deeply-  than  many  others. 
I  have  been  called  to  mourn  over  tlie  graves  of  two 
loved  companions  and  four  children,  from  a  faTuily  of 
fourteen. 

I  now  reside  with  my  third  wife,  in  West  Shelb^', 
and  preach  every  Sunday  at  the  Christian  Church  in 


394  PIO]^fEER   IIISTOKY 

Barre,  N.  Y,,  where  I  have  laboi-ecl   in  tlie  ministry, 
more  or  less,  for  fifty  years. 

JOTITAM  MORSE." 
West  Shelby,  May.  18G8. 

DAVID    BUKKOUGHS. 

DaA'id  BurroDghs  was  born  near  Trenton,  !N"ew  Jer- 
sey, and  died  iii  the  town  of  Slielby,  Orleans  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1822,  aged  46  years. 

Mr.  Burronglis  removed  to  Ovid,  Seneca  county, 
about  the  yeRi'  1798,  where  he  resided,  working  a 
farm  and  keeping  hotel  until  the  year  1818,  when  he 
removed  to  Shelby,  and  settled  on  a  farm  about  two 
miles  south-west  from  kshelby  Center. 

Mr.  Burroughs  took  first  rank  among  his  towns- 
men for  his  capacit}^  and  intelligence.  He  was  the 
first  Supervisor  of  Shelby,  while  it  belonged  to  Gen- 
esee county,  and  was  apjDointed  jugtice  of  the  peace 
about  the  year  1820,  an  ofiice  he  held  till  his  death. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  tliat  framed  the 
Constitution  for  the  State  in  tlie  yeai"  1821.  He  took 
an  ai'ticle  of  his  farm  from  the  Holland  Company  a 
year  or  two  before  lie  moved  his  family  to  Shelby. 
He  had  a  few  acres  cleared  and  a  log  house  built, 
ready  for  his  family  when  they  came  in.  He  left 
two  sons,  I.  K.  Burroughs,  formerly  a  merchant  and 
business  man  in  Medina,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  Hon.  Silas  M.  Burroughs,  who  began  life  for 
himself  as  a  merchant.  He  afterwards  abandoned 
merchandise  for  the  practice  of  law.  He  represented 
the  county  of  Orleans  four  years  in  the  lower  House, 
in  the  legislature  of  the  State,  and  was  twice  elected 
member  of  Congress,  and  died  before  tlu,^  end  of  his 
second  term.     He  also  resided  in  Medina. 

DAuiLs  SOUTH woirni. 
Datiws  Soutl) worth  was    born   in  l^almyra,  N.  Y.., 


OF   OIlLEAJiS  COUNTY.  395 

March  IStli,  1800.  He  worked  some  at  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter  while  a  minor,  but  since  the  year  1825,  he 
has  made  that  his  principal  business. 

He  married  Mercy  Mason,  daughter  of  James 
Mason,  of  Millville,  in  Shelby,  where  lie  has  ever 
since  resided.  They  have  four  children,  Elvira  A., 
Albert,  Dexter  L.,  and  George  J.  H.,  all  now  liv- 
ing. 

NEWMAN   CURTIS. 

Newman  Curtis  was  born  in  Dalton,  Massachu- 
setts, September  9th,  1797. 

He  married  Maria  Van  Bergen,  of  Kattskill,  N.  Y., 
June  9th,  1818.  In  September,  1824,  he  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Shelby,  one  mile  south  of  I^.Iillville.  Mr. 
Curtis  had  fourteen  children,  eight  sons  and  six 
daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  become  men  and  wo- 
men, and  all  of  whom  received  their  education  at 
Millville  Academy. 

In  1854  Mr.  Curtis  sold  his  farm  in  Shelby  and  re- 
moved to  the  town  of  Independence,  i]i  Iowa,  where 
he  purchased  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  for  his  own 
farm,  and  located  a  large  quantity  of  wild  land  of 
the  Government,  for  his  children.  Mr,  Curtis  became 
wealthy  from  the  rise  in  the  value  of  these  lands, 
and  the  practice  of  industry  and  economy.  He  died 
in  the  year  1858.  His  widow  and  twelve  children 
survived  him.    - 

IIOIIATIO    N.   iii:w3:s. 

Horatio  N.  Hewes  settled  in  Shelby  in  the  year 
1825,  as  a  partner  in  business  with  L.  A.  G.  B. 
Grant.  He  was  engaged  in  selling  goods,  running 
mills,  and  dealing  in  produce  v>dth  Mr.  Grant  for 
some  years,  and  after  that  became  a  large  contractor 
to  do  j)ublic  work,  and  had  large  jobs  of  work  on 
the  Erie  canal.     He   removed  to  Medina  to  reside 


396  PIONEEU    II18T0UV 

about    the    year    1854,  where    he    died  June    17th, 
1802. 

He  was  an  energetic  business  man,  and  was  exten- 
sively known  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  married 
a  danghter  of  Col.  A.  A.  Ellicott. 

LAxnjrop    A.  (;.  li.  gkant. 

Lathrop  A.  Gf.  B.  Grant  settled  in  SlieUn'  about 
the  3-ear  1824,  as  a  merchant.  He  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  A.  A.  Ellicott. 

Mr.  Grant  gradually  extended  his  business  opera- 
tions, and  at  length  became  a  large  dealer  in  farmer's 
produce. 

About  the  year  1851  he  built  the  large  stone  mills 
at  Shelby  Center,  and  run  them  for  a  time.  He  was 
an  active  and  inlliiential  man  in  public  affairs  of  his 
town  and  county,  and  was  the  representative  of  Or- 
leans county  in  the  State  legislature  in  1820,  being 
the  first  member  e'h-cted  after  the  county  was  organ- 
ized. 

Twelve  or  ilfteen  years  ag'O  he  sold  out  his  property 
in  Shelby,  and  removed  to  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
has  since  resided  engaged  in  extensive  business. 

AXDUKW      A.    EJ^LTCOTr. 

Andrew  A.  Ellicott  was  l)orn  in  Lancaster,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

He  married  Sarah  A.  AVilliams,  of  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey.     He  came  to  Batavia  in  May,  18013. 

In  July,  1817,  he  removed  to  Shelby,  Orleans  coun- 
ty, where  his  uncle,  Joseph  Ellicott,  had  given  him 
eight  liundred  acres  of  land,  which  included  the 
water  power  at  Shelley  Center.  He  settled  at  Shelby 
Center,  wheic  he  built  mills,  officiated  as  Justice  of 
the  peace,  and  ])ostmast<.'r.  Ht^  was  the  lii'st  post- 
master in  that  town. 

His  influence  with  his  Avealthv  and  numerous  fani- 


OK   ORLEANS   COrXTY.  397 

]y  connexions,  his  own  benevolence  and  disposition 
to  aid  such  as  needed  help,  which  he  always  be- 
stowed liberally  when  ho  had  opportunity,  en- 
deared him  to  the  pioneers  in  Shelby,  and  contribu- 
ted mucli  towards  inducing'  settlements  to  bo  made 
there. 

He  died  September  7t]i,  1830.  His  wife  died  Au- 
gust 26tli,  I80O.  His  daughter  Sarah,  widow  of  the 
late  Horatio  N.  Hewes,  resides  in  Medina. 

ALEXANI)l<:ii   COON. 

Alexander  Coon  was  the  iirst,  or  among  tlie  first 
settlers  in  Shelby.  He  came  from  Rensselaer  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  located  about  two  miles  west  of  Shelby 
Center,  in  1810. 

In  a  statement  furnished  by  Mr.  Alexander  Coon, 
Jr.,  for  Turner's  History  of  the  Holland  Purchase, 
he  says : 

"My  father's  family  left  the  Lewiston  Road  at 
Walsworths,  and  arriving  upon  our  land,  four  crotch- 
es were  set  in  the  ground,  sticks  laid  across,  the  whole 
covered  with  elm  bark,  making  a  sleeping  place. 
The  cooking  was  done  in  the  open  air.  A  very  com- 
fortable log  house  was  then  built  in  five  days,  with- 
out boards,  nails,  or  shingles.  Our  cattle  were  fed 
the  first  winter  on  browse,  tlie  next  winter  on  browse 
and  cornstalks. 

Our  nearest  neighbor  south,  was  Walsworth  ;  west, 
the  nearest  was  in  Hartland  ;  north,  one  fiimily  on 
the  Ridge  Road." 

Mr.  Alexander  Coon,  s<niior,  loft  several  sons,  and 
the  family  became  among  the  most  respectable  in  the 
community. 

Alexander  Coon,  Jr.,  Mas  afterward  a  prominent 
public  man,  well  and  favorably  known  in  the  affairs 
of  his  town  and  county.  For  eleven  years  he  rep- 
resented   the  town  of  Shelby  in  the  Board  of  Super- 


398  PIONEER  ITISTOEY 

visors  of  Orleans  county, — a  longer  time  than  any 
other  man  ever  served  as  a  member  of  that  Board. 
He  also  held  many  other  town  ofRces.  He  said  when 
he  was  collector  of  taxes  in  Shelbj^,  he  had  a  tax  of 
less  than  a  dollar  against  a  man  who,  to  pay  it, 
made  black  -salts,  drew  them  to  Gaines  on  a  liand- 
sled,  and  sold  them  for  the  money. 

.JACOB   A.    ZIMMERMAISr. 

Jacob  A.  Zimmerman  was  born  inManheim,  N.  Y., 
August  23d,  1795. 

In  1817  he  came  to  Shelby  with  John  B.  Snell,  who 
moved  from  the  same  town. 

In  the  summer  of  1817,  he  married  Nancj^  Snell. 
In'  the  spring  of  1819,  they  commenced  keeping 
house  in  Shelby,  on  the  farm  they  ever  afterwards 
occupied. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  says  : 

"  I  made  a  table.  We  had  no  chairs.  I  made 
three  stools,  two  for  ourselves  and  one  for  company. 
Our  window  lights  Avere  white  paper  ;  no  window 
glass  could  be  had  here  then.  Our  cooking  utensils 
were  a  four  quart  kettle,  and  a  black  earthen  teapot. 
I  gave  a  dollar  for  six  cast  iron  knives  and  forks  and 
six  cups  and  saucers,  which  completed  our  eating 
tools. 

Times  were  ver}-  hard.  I  was  eleven  months  with- 
out a  sixj^ence  in  money ;  two  months  without  any 
shoes.  When  we  saw  shoes  tied  .up  with  bark  we 
called  them  half  worn  out.  I  gave  live  bushels  of 
wheat  for  a  pair  of  poor^  coarse  shoes,  made  of  tlank 
leather. 

In  1821  my  log  house  was  burned.  The  neighbors 
lielpil  m3  biiill  a;i)':i3r  liDa^.^,  and  in  two 
weeks  after  the  fire  we  moved  to  the  new  house.  In 
November,  1826,  I  had  bought  and  paid  for  eighty- 


OF  oklp:ans  county.  399 

seven  acres  of  land.     I  afterwards  increased  my  farm 
to  one  hundred  sixteen  acres." 

Mr.  Zimmerman's  children  are  Morris,  married 
Phehe  Bent ;  Eleanor,  unmarried  ;  Gilbert,  married 
Janette  Sanderson  ;  John  A.,  married,  Mary  Powers; 
Arvilla,  married  Egbert  B.  Simonds  ;  and  AndreAv  L., 
married  Jennie  Bartsom.  Jacob  A.  Zimmerman,  died 
December  Gth,  1864.    . 

John  Grinnell  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Saratoga 
Connt}^,  December  4th,  1796. 

His  father,  Josiali  Grinnell,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island.  He  settled  in  Saratoga  county  and  removed 
from  there  to  Oneida  county,  where  he  died. 

John  Grinnell  purchased  a  farm  in  Barre,  in  1820, 
on  which  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  built  a  log 
house  into  which  he  moved  in  April,  1821.  He  cleared 
Ms  farm  and  resided  there  till  1854,  when  he  moved 
to  Shelby. 

He  was  three  times  married.  First,  to  Roxana 
Kirkham;  second,  to  Lucy  Babcock  ;  she  died  Janu- 
ary 25th,  1846  ;  third,  to  Mrs.  Julia  Ann  Abbott,  Oc- 
tober 27th,  1847. 

His  children,  Oyrene  and  Daniel,  are  dead.  Paul, 
married  Sarah  Butler  ;  Peter,  married  Eliza  Berry  ; 
Lyman,  married  Leonoi-a  Rooker ;  Andrew  J.,  mar- 
ried Mary  Rodman  ;  J.  Wesley,  married  Alice 
Haines  ;  Mahala,  married  William  J.  Cakhvell ; 
Harley,  married  Maria  Kelsey  ;  John  Jr.,  married 
Margaret  Root  ;  Ella  J.,  married  Frederick  Hop- 
kins. 

His  brothers,  Ezra,  Major  and  Amos,  and  his  sis- 
ters, Betsey,  wife  of  Alanson  Tinkham ;  Eliza,  wife 
of  William  Tyler ;  Chloe,  wife  of  Relly  Tinkham, 
and  Anna,   wife  of   Weston   Wetherby,  all  settled 


400  PIONEEK  HISTORY 

in  Orleans    county    soon    aftej-    Mr.  Jolm   Grrinnell. 
came  in. 

These  families  so  early  settled  here,  have  been 
prosperous  in  business.  Being  upright  in  purpose, 
and  honorable  in  character,  they  have  become 
among  the  most  respected  families  in  the  county. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE   TOWX   OF   YATKH. 

Formerly  called  Northton — George  Ilousemau  —  Discouragement  to 
Early  Settlement — First  Deed — Tappan's  Tavern — Liquor  Soki— 
First  Marriage — First  Death  —  First  Store  —  First  Sawmill — Beskr 
Story  —  Preserved  Grcenman — Anecdotes  of  tirst  Justice — Yates 
Center — First  Post  Ofllce — Peter  Saxe — Names  of  First  Settlers 
along  Range  Line  Road — Vilhige  of  Lyndonville — Biographies  ot 
Early  Settlors. 


-  A.TES  Avas  formed  from  Iiid<;-eway,  April  17, 
'4  1822,  In'  the  name  of  Nortldoii.  The  next 
'^  yeai-  the  name  was  chanf^ed  to  Yates,  m 
honor  of  Governor  Yates. 

George  lloiiseman,  from  Adams,  JettV'rsou  (bounty, 
came  into  tliis  town  and  settled  in  1809.  .lolin  Eaton 
came  in  1810. 

Verv'  few  settJers  came  in  before  <tr  during  the  war 
of  1812.  The  extnmie  difficulty  of  getting  farm  pro- 
duce to  a  market,  and  th(^  prospect  that  such  a  diffi- 
culty would  long  exist,  Irom  the  locality,  disc-ouraged 
emigi'ants  from  stopi)ing  here,  and  little  land  As^as 
taken  before  1817. 

Persons  coming  to  this  county  To  look  for  a  place 
for  their  home,  generally  sought  a  locality  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  neighbors,  where  roads  were  opened,  and 
where  the  social  enjojanents  r»f  human  lifH  could  in 
some  degree  be  realized.  It  reqidi-tKl  considerabio 
heroism  for  a  man  to  go  back  live  or  eight  mfles  from 
any  settlement  into  the  thick,  heavy  forest,  and  begin 
with  the  intention  tliei-*'  to  ch-jir  for  himself  a. 
farm. 


I 
402  PIONEEK  IIISTOKY 

A  few  hardy  resolute  men  located  in  Yates,  re- 
gardless of  every  discouragement,  but  no  considera- 
ble settlement  was  effected  until  after  the  cold  season 
of  181G-17,  when  the  country  lapldly  filled  up  with 
settlers. 

The  first  deed  of  land  given  by  the  Holland  Land 
Company,  in  this  town,  was  to  Preserved  Grreenman, 
June  18th,  1810.  Almost  the  v/hole  of  this  town  was 
deeded  hy  tlie  Holland  Company  between  the  years 
1831  and  1835. 

The  first  tavern  was  kept  b}'  Samuel  Tappan,  at 
Yates  Center,  in  the  year  1825.  The  population  of 
the  town  at  that  time  was  less  than  eight  hundred, 
yet  Judge  Tappan,  in  a  biographical  sketch  of  him- 
self, says: 

'-'In  the  thirtei'U  mouths  in  which  1  kej^t  this 
tavern,  I  retailed  fifty-three  barrels  of  spiritous  li- 
quors." 

The  first  marriage  in  town  was  that  of  George 
Houseman,  Jr.,  and  Sally  Covert,  in  1817.  The  first 
death  that  of  ]Mrs.  George  Houseman,  senior,  De- 
cember, 1813. 

The  first  store  was  kept  by  Moore  &  Hughes,  at 
Yates  Center,  in  1824. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Josiah  Perry,  in 
the  year  1819,  in  the  district  including  Yates  Cen- 
ter. 

A  sawmill  was  built  on  Johnson's  Creek,  below 
Lyndonville,  by  Gardner  and  Irons,  about  the  year 
1819,  and  a  gristmill  on  the  same  dam  in  1821. 
These  mills,  at  a  later  day,  have  been  known  as  Bul- 
lock's  Mills,  named  from  a  subsequent  owner.  The 
mills  and  dam  are  now  gone. 

Chamberlain  &  Simpson  built  the  warehouse  on 
the  Lake  shore,  north  from  Yates  Center. 

A  family  by  the  name  of  Wilkeson  lived  in  the  east 
part  of  the  town  in  181 1  or  '12.     In  the  summer  sea- 


OF   ORLEANS  COUNTY.  403 

son  of  tliat  year,  Miss  Eliza  Wilkeson  saw  a  young 
cub  bear  near  the  house,  among  some  vines  they  liad 
planted.  She  was  alone  in  the  house,  but  seizing  the 
old-fashioned  fire  shovel,  she  went  and  killed  the  bear 
with  it, 

Mr.  Preserved  Greenman  took  up  about  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  lying  east  from  Lyndonville,  be- 
fore the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Greenman  did  not  occupy 
his  land  himsell",  but  settled  his  sons  Daniel  and 
Enos  there,  giving  the  neighborhood  the  name  of  the 
"  Greenman  Settlement." 

Some  years  after,  Mr.  P.  Greenman  removed  from 
Montgomery"  county  to  Yates,  to  reside.  After  a 
few  years  he  removed  to  Genesee  county,  and  died 
there. 

Mr.  P.  Greenman  was  noted  for  being  "set  in  his 
way,"  and  having  made  up  his  mind,  it  was  hard  to 
turn  him.  Having  sold  his  farm  in  Montgomery  Co,, 
while  preparing  to  move  to  Yates,  he  had  a  valuable 
ox-cart  to  dispose  of.  He  named  a  price  for  his  cart. 
A  man  offered  him  a  less  price  and  would  give  no 
more.  Greenman  declared  he  would  not  abf^te  a 
cent,  and  would  burn  his  cart  before  he  would  sell 
for  less.  No  better  offer  was  made,  and  when  he 
came  away  he  piled  his  cart  in  a  heap  and  burnt 
it. 

A  rule  he  made  was,  that  a  pail  of  water  must  be 
left  standing  in  his  house  every  night,  and  the  last 
person  who  retired  must  see  that  it  was  done,  under 
the  penalty  of  being  horse-whipped  by  Mr.  Green- 
man next  morning,  in  case  of  neglect.  It  happened 
once  his  daughter  had  a  beau  who  made  her  a  rather 
long  evening  visit,  and  she  was  the  last  in  the  family 
to  retire  for  the  night,  and  foi-got  the  pail  of  water. 
Her  father  rose  first,  as  usual,  in  the  morning,  and 
finding  the  waterpail  empty,  called  up  his   daughter 


404  PIONEJiR  lllSTOKY 

and  gave  her  a  sound  tlirasliing  to  maintain  the  rule 
he  liad  established. 

.Amos  Spencer  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace 
within  the  territory  now  called  Yates.  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Council  in  1819. 

The  first  school  house  in  town  stood  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  north  of  Yates  Center,  and  was  built  in 
1818.  Mr.  Josiali  Perry  kept  the  first  school  there 
in  1810. 

YATES   CEXTER. 

Yates  Center  at  first  seemed  to  be  the  point  where 
the  village  would  be  built.  A  hotel  was  opened  here 
bj'-  Samuel  Tappan,  and  a  store  by  Moore  & 
Hughes,  the  first  in  town,  and  several  dwelling 
1  louses  were  built. 

Here  the  first  postoflice  was  located,  Wm.  Hughes 
first  postmaster. 

When  population  and  trade  began  to-  settle  at 
Lyndonville,  Yates  Center  ceased  to  enlarge,  but  its 
inhabitants  were  not  discouraged.  About  this  time 
Peter  Saxe,  from  Vermont,  a  brother  of  John  G. 
Saxe,  the  poet,  located  here  as  a  merchant.  He  may 
be  considered  the  founder  of  Yates  Academy,  for 
through  his  influence  and  energy  it  was  planned,  the 
stock  subscribed,  and  the  institution  incorporated. 
Mr.  Saxe  traded  here  a  few  years,  then  i-emoved 
to  Troy,  N.  Y. 

After  the  canal  was  made  navigable,  much  of  the 
produce  of  the  town  of  Yates  found  a  market  that 
way  ;  this  trade,  and  the  mills  at  Lyndonville,  opera- 
ted in  favor  of  that  place,  and  against  the  Center. 

The  Methodist  Chapel  at  Lyndonville,  which  was 
the  first  house  of  worship  built  in  town,  was  soon 
followed  b}^  the  building  of  the  Baptist  and  Presby- 
terian churches  at  that  place. 

Considerable  oak  timber  grew  in  Yates.    ThiB  was 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  40o 

cut  down  long  since,  squared  for  slii])  building,  or 
riven  into  staves,  and  sent  down  tlie  lake  to 
market. 

The  folloAving  is  a  list  of  names  of  persons  who,  if 
not  first  the  first,  were  among  the  first  who  settled  on 
the  road  in  the  center  of  the  town  from  tlie  lake  to 
Ridge  way,  beginning  on  the  lake  : 

On  the  west  side  of  th(3  highway. — Amos  Spencer 
settled  here  on  the  lake  shore  in  1818.  Next  south, 
Simeon  Gilbert,  in  1818.  Next,  Baruch  H.  Gilbert, 
in  1817.  Next,  Luther  St.  John.  Next,  Isaiah  Lo3W- 
is,  in  1818.  Next  a  man  by  the  name  of  Wing  sold 
to  Dr.  Elisha  Bowen,  who  resided  there  many  years. 

l^ext,  Zenas  Conger.     Next, Nellis.     Next, 

Thomas   Stafford.      Next.    Moses  Wheeler.      Next, 

Nichols.      Next, Rowk-y,   Next, 

Samuel   and   O.    Wliipple.      Next,    — —   Beck. 

Next, Collins.     Next,    Josiah    Cam])bell. 

Next,  Elisha  Sawyer. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  highway,  beginning  ai  the 
lake.  First,  Robert  Simpson.  Next,  Elisha  Gilbert. 
Next  Nathan  Skt^llinger.  Next  ZaclKnis  Swift. 
Next,  Comfort  Joy,  in  1817.  Next  Lemuel  L.  Downs. 
Next,  Isaac  Hurd  took  two  hundred  acres.  Next, 
Stephen  Austin.  Next,  Benjamin  Drake  Next, 
Truman  .-Viistin.  Next,  Jacob  Winegar.  Next, 
Stephen  B.  Johnson,  in  1817. 

The  next  two  hundred  acres  were  owned  by  several 
different  parties  under  article,  but  the  deed  from  the 
Land  Company   was   taken   by  Sanuu4   Clark,  Esq. 

Next,   was Peck.      Next,   Abner  Balcom. 

Next,  Harvey  Clark.  Next,  Elisha  Sawyer.  These 
settlements  were  ("hiefly  made  b(^tween  the  j'ears 
1816  and  1819. 

VILLAGE    OF    LYNDONVILL!',. 

Mr.  Stephen  ^\^  Mudgett,  who  had  carried  on  tail- 


406  PIONEER  HISTORY 

ning  and  slioemaking  in  Ridgeway,  purchased  fifty 
acres  of  land,  part  of  lot  two,  section  seven,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  north  and  south  road  in  Lyndonville, 
and  removed  there  and  set  up  tanning  and  shoe- 
making. 

Samuel  Clark  took  a  deed  of  two  hundred  acres 
next  north  of  S.  W.  Mudgett,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road. 

About  the  year  1817,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Peck 
took  up  one  hundred  acres  on  the  west  side  where 
\Villiam  Mudgett  afterwards  resided.  Samuel  and 
Oliver  AVhipple  took  up  land  next  north  of 
Peck. 

Soon  after  the  county  of  Orleans  was  organized, 
settlers  began  to  gather  here.  Mechanics  and  trades- 
men came  in  and  a  village  began  to  be  formed,  Sam- 
uel Tappan,  who  was  postmaster,  and  kept  his  office 
at  Yates  Center,  removed  it  here,  much  to  the  dis- 
gust of  those  living  at  the  Center. 

L.  &  ]Sr.  Martin,  from  Peacham,  Vermont,  kej^t  the 
first  store  in  1880.  Smith  &  Babcock  soon  followed, 
and  Royal  Chamberlain  was  an  early  merchant.  C. 
Peabody  was  first  blacksmith. 

Blanchard  and  Chamberlain  built  the  tavern 
which  stands  there  yet,  which  was  kept  by  Miner 
Sherwin,  in  1830. 

To  settle  the.  postofiice  satisfactorily  to  the  people, 
Yates  postoffice  was  transfered  to  the  Center,  and 
application  ^^  as  made  to  the  department  for  a  new 
postoffice,  to  be  called  Ijyndon,  that  being  the  name 
that  had  been  agreed  on  at  a  public  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants,  several  of  whom  came  from  Lyndon, 
Vermont.  The  ])Ostoffice  department  established  the 
postoffice  by  name  ot  Lyndonville,  to  distinguish  it 
from  Linden,  in  Genesee  county. 

S.  W.  Mudgett,  Samuel  Tappan,  Richard  Barry 
and   otlu'rs,  built  the   first  flonring  Mills   at  Lyndon- 


OF   ORLEANS   OOUISTTT.  407 

ville,  in  1836.  The  Union  School  house  was  built  in 
1843. 

Royal  Chamberlain,  from  Veraiont,  settled  here  as 
a  merchant  about  the  time  the  village  began  to  be 
established. 

As  there  was  no  lawyer  by  jjrofession  in  town,  Mi, 
Chamberlain  being  a  ready  talker  and  possessed  of 
some  education'and  sufficient  self  assurance,  engaged 
in  trying  suits] in  justice's  courts,  and  continued  the 
practice  several  years,  until  he  became  a  noted 
* '  j^ettifogger "  through  several  towns  around.  He 
was  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  one  term. 
He  removed  from  Yates  several  years  ago,  and  now 
resides  in  Lockport.T where  he  has  edited  a  newH- 
paper.  He  did  considerable  to  build  up  a  village  at 
Lyndonville. 

D]'.  Horace  Phippany  was  the  tii-st  i-egular  physi- 
cian who  settled  in  Lyndonville. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Irons  was  the  first  Baptist  minister 
who  resided  in  Yates. 


BIOGRAPHIES  OF  EARLY  SEHLERS. 

IIEUHEN    KOOT. 

"I  Avas  born  in  Cooperstown,  Otsego  county,  JN. 
Y.,  December  28t]),  1792.  My  father  n'raoved  with 
his  family,  then  consisting  of  his  wife  and  five  sons, 
to  Big  Sodus  Bay,  in  180]  or  '2.  In  Ajml,  1804,  we 
moved  by  wny  of  Irondecpioit  Bay  and  lak(^  Ontario, 
to  the  mouth  of  .lohnson's  Creek,  in  Carlton,  near 
which  place  my  fatlier  took  an  artich'  of  land  from 
the  Holland  Land  Compan\-,  and  locatfMl  on  it  to 
make  him  a  farm. 

The  party  that  cam(3  consistt.'d  of  my  father's  lanii- 
ly  and  the  Dunham  familj",  of  six  or   sewn  persons, 


408  PIO^T:Eli  uistohy 

and  these  constituted  tlie  whole  white  i)opulation 
north  of  the  Ridge,  between  the  Niagara  and  Gene- 
see rivers,  except  afaniih'  by  the  name  of  Wals- 
worth,  who  liad  settled  at  the  nioutli  of  Oak  Or- 
chard Cre«:4v. 

Ma"  father  built  a  house  of  such  poles  as  we  could 
carry,  as  we  had  no  team  to  draw  logs,  and  (covered 
it  with  elm  baik,  in  which  we  lived  without  a  iloor 
for  one  or  twoyeai's,  then  a  floor  was  mad*'  of  split 
basswood  logs. 

After  building  a  shelttT  lor  the  famil}-.  tiie  next 
thing  in  order  was  to  get  sui)plied  with  food  and 
clothing,  the  stock  we  brought  with  us  getting  low. 
We  cleared  a  small  j^iece  of  land  and  planted  it  with 
corn  ;  from  this  we  made  our  bread.  Our  meat  coii- 
sisted  of  hsh,  venison,  bear,  raccoon  and  hedgehog. 
We  jiouuded  our  corn  for  meal  two  or  three  years, 
by  which  time  we  began  to  raise  wheat,  which  we 
took  to  Norton's  mill,  in  Lima,  to  bi^  ground.  It 
was  aljout  seventy  miles  by  way  of  Irondequoit  Bay 
and  the  lak«*.  'i'he  country  was  so  infested  with 
bears  and  wolves  at  tliat  tim(>  we  could  not  kee])  do- 
mestic aninuds. 

In  the  summer  of  1800  or  "7,  my  fathei-  got  a  cow 
from  Canada,  but  tht-  following  tall  she  was  killed 
by  wolves. 

Our  (dotliing  Avas  made  from  hemp  of  our  own  rais- 
ing. We  could  not  raise  flax  on  account  of  the  rust 
that  destroyed  the  tibrc. 

For  several  years  we  had  no  l^oots  or  shoes  for 
want  of  material  to  make  them. 

My  father  built  the  first  frame  barn  in  what  is  now 
Orleans  county.  The  lumber  and  nails  he  brought 
from  Canada. 

Turner,  in  his  history  of  the  Holland  Purchase,  is 
in  erroi-  when  he  says  that  "  James  Mather  binlt  the 
first   franii"   bai-ii,  and   got   part  of  his   lumber  from 


OF  orlt-;axs  coujnty.  409 

Dunham's  inill.""  Our  burn  was  built  before  Uun- 
liam's  sawmill  Avas  built.  The  barn  was  torn  down 
by  Daniel  Gates  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  years 
since,  who  then  owned  the  place,  and  some  of  the 
flooring-  can  now  be  seen  on  the  premises.  Thvy 
were  split  and  hewn  from  whitewood  logs.  The  nails 
used  were  all  wrought  nails. 

In  Sej>tember,  181-1,  my  father  and  myself  being 
the  only  ones  in  our  family  liable  to  do  military- 
duty,  were  ordered  to  meet  at  Batavia,  and  go 
from  there  to  Buffalo  to  serve  in  the  United  States 
army,  in  the  war  then  being  carried  on  against  Great 
Britain. 

On  our  arrival  at  Bufialo,  there  was  a  call  made 
for  volunteers  to  go  to  Fort  Erie,  under  General  Por- 
ter, to  take  the  British  batteries  that  were  then  be- 
seiging  Fort  Erie.  My  father  and  myself  volunteered 
and  went  over  and  assisted  in  taking  the  batteries 
and  capturing  some  live  hundred  prisoners.  'I'his 
was  on  the  17th  of  September,  1814.  After  this  w<' 
v>ei(i  discharged,  rcceiviiig  at  th<'  rate  of. ^8  ])pr  uiontli 
for  our  services. 

In  1814,  I  took  an  article  from  the  Holland  Land 
Comjmny  of  the  land  on  wliich  I  now  reside,  on  lot 
one,  section  tliree,  township  sixteen,  range  three. 

In  April,  181i),  I  went  to  Canada  and  worked  on  a 
farm  there  during  the  summt-r.  The  winter  following 
I  returned  and  cho})p(3d  over  twenty-live  acres  on  ni}' 
farm,  and  in  March,  1816,  I  Avent  t<.»  'I'oronto  and 
took  command  of  a  vessel  and  sailetl  on  lake 
Ontario  during  the  season  of  navigation  until  ih«' 
year  1820. 

In  January  ::i8tli,  1810,  1  was  married  to  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth Hastings,  of  I'oronto.  We  moved  upon  m_\' 
farm  in  Yates,  in  December,  1820,  where  we  still  re- 
side. We  have  raised  a  family  of  ten  childien,  five 
sons   and  five   daughters.     My  r'kh'st   and  ywungest 


410  PTONEKK   TIISTOKY 

sons  are  now  serving  in  the  armieH  of  their  country 
in  the  war  of  the  great  rebellion. 

REUBEN  ROOT." 

Yates,  June,  18G4. 

SAMUEL   TAPJ»AN. 

Samuel  Tappan  was  horn  in  Saco,  Maine,  Novem- 
ber 19,  1781.  When  nine  years  old  lie  went  to  reside 
with  an  uncle  in  Massachusetts.  His  father  was  a 
Quaker  in  religious  opinion,  a  zealous  advocate  of 
their  peculiar  principles  until  his  death.  On  the  death 
of  his  father  Samuel  was  placed  with  a  man  in  Saco,  to 
learn  the  tailor' s  trade.  Disliking  this  business  he  was 
soon  after  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  a  shoemaker, 
and  commenced  his  •'  servitude,'-  as  he  called  it, 
August,  1793.  His  master  belonged  to  the  sect  of 
Quakers,  hard  and  exacting,  he  made,  no  allow- 
ance for  the  faults  and  failings,  or  the  weakness  or 
feelings  of  others.  He  obliged  his  apprentice  to  as- 
sume the  dress,  and  conform  to  the  mode  of  worship 
of  the  Quakers,  both  of  which  were  repugnant  to  the 
feelings  of  the  ^'oung  man.  His  master  had  no 
books  but  the  Bible,  and  a  few  religious  works  on 
subjects  connected  with  the  Quakers.  Samuel  was 
inclined  to  read  wliatever  came  in  his  way.  His  incli- 
nations, however,  were  strictly  restrained  by  his  mas- 
ter, by  whom  all  books  of  poetry  and  romance  were 
absolutely  forbidden,  and  the  range  of  other  books 
to  which  he  was  admitted,  was  exceedingly  limited. 
After  several  years  sj^ent  in  this  manner,  a  friendlj' 
Congregational  minister  kindh'  supplied  him  with 
books,  and  gavt^  him  discreet  counsel,  which 
rendered  his  st^rvitud*-  more  tolerable  and  happy. 
He  had  iio  lienefit  of  schooling,  never  having 
attended  school  as  m  scliolai-  T)nt  thi'ee  days  in  his 
life. 

In  1801.  with  tlu-  la-lp  of  friends  ht-   purchased  his 


OF  ORLEAIS'S   COUNTY.  411 

freedom  from  his  apprenticeship,  and  returned  to 
Saco  and  worked  at  his  trade  about  two  years, 
studying  what  he  could  in  the  mean  time  to  fit  him- 
self for  a  school  teacher. 

In  1803  he  taught  his  first  school,  in  which  occupa- 
tion he  was  mainly  employed  for  a  number  of  years, 
occasionally  working  at  his  trade,  and  studying  when 
he  could  without  a  teacher. 

For  several  years  he  supplied  the  poets  corner  in  a 
village  newspaper,  and  became  considerably  inter- 
ested in  politics,  on  tlie  Republican  side,  under  the 
lead  of  Mr.  Jefferson. 

In  1809  he  was  appointed  deputy  sherift'  for  York 
and  Oxford  counties,  which  office  he  held  for  two 
years. 

In  1811  he  removed  to  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.  The  ti'oubles  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  thickening  at  this  time,  on  his  ap- 
plication he  was  appointed  an  Ensign  in  the  Infantry  in 
the  United  States  Army,  and  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
IStli  Regiment,  and  stationed  in  the  recruiting  service 
at  Hoosic,  N.  Y. 

After  war  was  declared  in  1812,  he  was  transferred 
to  the  23d  regiment. 

In  May,  1813,  he  was  ordered  with  his  company  tc 
the  Niagara  fi-ontier.  Fort  George,  at  the  mouth  of 
Niagar.^  river,  on  the  Canada  side,  was  taken  by  our 
forces,  and  Ensign  Tappan  was  sent  with  fort}^  men 
to  plant  the  American  fiag  on  the  fort,  which  was  the 
first  time  that  flag  was  raised  ovei*  conquei'ed  British 
territory  in  that  war.  Ensign  Tappan  was  now  ap- 
pointed adjutant.  In  Sept<:>mber  lie  was  sent  with  a 
convoy  of  prisoners  to  Greenbush,  being  twentj^-one 
days  on  the  i-oad.  He  remained  in  Greenbush  the 
next  autumn  and  winter,  teaching  school  in  the  mean 
time. 


412  PIOXEER  IIISTOEY 

111  June,  1S14,  he  was  again  ordered  to  the  frou- 
tier  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  company,  and 
served  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Erie.  lie  was  engaged' 
in  the  batth^s  of  Chix)pt'vva  and  Lnndy's  Lane.  In 
this  hist  battk-  his  com})an3'  lost  seventeen  out  of 
forty-five  in  killed  and  wounded.  In  this  battle 
Lieutenant  Tappan,  at  the  head  of  his  company,  cajD- 
tured  Capt.  Frazier,  of  the  Eoyal  Sc^otts,  with  twenty 
of  his  men.  The  American  arm\'  afterwards  retired 
to  Fort  Erie,  and  was  besieged  tlnnv  by  the  British, 
but  they  were  finally'  compelled  to  raise  the  siege. 
Afterwards,  b\^  the  bursting  of  a  shell  in  our  camp 
which  had  been  thrown  there  by  the  British,  his  knee 
was  broken,  which  confined  him  in  hospital  a  long 
time,  and  on  account  of  which  he  received  a  i)ension 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  After  he  became  suffi- 
ciently recovered  to  return  to  dut}-,  lie  was  retained 
on  the  peace  establishment,  war  with  England  being 
ended,  but  resigned  his  commission  in  February, 
1810.  He  then  returned  to  Pittstown,  and  there 
taugJit  school  the  next  seven  years,  serving  in  the 
mean  time  as  inspector  and  commissioner  of  schools, 
commissionei'  of  deeds,  auctioneer  and  coroner.  In 
1823  he  moved  to  Ridgeway,  moving  in  October,  his 
family  consisting  of  a  wife  and  five  children,  with  all 
his  effects  on  two  Dutch  Wagons,  rt:aching  Kidge- 
way,  Xoxember  10th.  After  litting  a  log  cabin  for 
his  famih'  he  took  a  school  for  tlif  winter.  In  the 
spring  hr  went  to  work  clearing  land,  but  as  he  said 
his  farming  was  not  a  success.  "'My  tVuit  trees 
would  fall  down  and  my  forest  trees  would  stand  up; 
my  crops  were  light  but  m>-  bills  wen^  heavy,  and 
one  year's  experience  taught  me  1  wan  not  born  to 
be  a  farmer." 

In  the  spring  of  1825  he  moved  to  Yates  and  opened 
a  tav(!rn  at  Yates  Center,  keeping  the  first  tavern 
opened  in  that   town.      After    keeping    tavern    one 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  413 

year  and  retailing  iifty-tliree  barrels  of  liquor  iu  that 
time,  he  sold  out  his  tavern,  was  elected  constable 
and  inspectoi-  of  schools  and  commissioner  of  deeds, 
which  last  named  office  he  held  twenty  years.  He 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  peace  in  1828.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1827  he  taught  school  for  the  last  time,  conclu- 
ding his  nineteen  years  service  in  tliat  capacity.  Id 
1821J  li(^  was  appointed  postmaster,  which  office  he 
held  tliirt(^en  jears.  In  1832  ho  was  appointed  one  of 
the  Judges  of  the  Orleans  County  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  which  office  he  held  five  3'ears.  In  1846  he 
was  elected  town  superintendent  of  common  schools. 
The  later  years  of  his  life  were  S23ent  in  quiet  at  home 
with  his  liooks,  and  enjoying  the  society  of  family 
and  friends.  He  was  constitutionally  frail  in  body, 
but  energetic  and  active  in  his  habits  of  life.  Being 
rc'ady  -with  his  pen,  and  having  considerable  expe- 
I'ience  in  lousiness,  he  was  frequently  employed  to 
draft  deeds,  wills  and  contracts  for  his  neighbors, 
and  had  some  practice  in  trying  suits  in  justices' 
<'Ourts,  as  counsel  foi-  juirties.  Of  a  cheerful  and 
lively  turn  of  mind  and  easj^  lioAv  of  language,  and 
having  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  anecdotes  and  sto- 
ries at  his  command,  lu'  would  make  himself  exceed- 
ingly interesting  in  conversation,  and  give  zest  and 
enjoyment  to  society  wherever  he  was.  His  charac- 
ter as  a  man  is  apth'  described  by  his  daughter  in  a 
memoir  of  him  pi-epared  b}^  Ijci',  from  which  we  ex- 
tract as  follows : 

"Judge  Tappan  maybe  d»'scribed  as  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  intellect,  well  acquainted  with 
the  leading  events  of  the  dav.  Of  the  strictest  inteo-- 
rity  in  his  business  relations,  noted  for  punctuality, 
a  j)ublic  spirited  citizen,  i-eady  to  bear  his  full  share 
of  responsibility.  In  his  social  relations,  his  keen 
perceptions  and  ready  wit  made  him  an  instructive 
companion.     Although  many  excentricities  mingled 


414  PIONEER  HISTORY 

ill  his  character,  yet  those  who  knew  him  best  over- 
looked these,  knowing  liis  heart  was  right,  though 
his  words  might  sometimes  wound.-' 

He  was  married  four  times  and  had  nineteen  chil- 
dren. 

Many  anecdotes  miglit  be  told  of  him  illustrative 
of  his  difterent  traits  of  character.  He  posssessed 
ho  mechanical  ability  and  often  related  one  of  his 
experiments  in  this  department.  After  he  moved  to 
Ridgeway  and  became  a  farmer  he  found  a  well  curb 
needed  and  concluded  to  make  one  without  assis- 
tance. He  ascertained  the  size  required,  collected 
the  materials  together  and  made  it  in  the  house  du- 
ring the  evenings,  being  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
day  time,  but  after  its  completion,  when  he  at- 
tempted to  take  it  through  the  doorway  he  found  it 
several  inches  wider  than  the  door.  He  was  a  great 
pedestrian,  often  making  excursions  on  foot,  showing 
greater  powers  of  endurance  than  many  younger  and 
stronger  men. 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  when  starting  on  one  of  his 
eastern  journeys,  he  tells  us  in  his  journal  that  ar- 
riving in  Albion  and  not  finding  the  water  let  into  the 
canal  as  he  expected,  he  managed  to  get  as  far  as 
Rochester,  and  walked  most  of  the  distance  to  Ge- 
neva. After  he  was  seventy  years  old  he  walked 
from  Medina  to  Daw's  Corners,  near  Batavia,  at  one 
time. 

While  postmaster,  he  often  left  two  horses  in  his 
stable  and  walked  from  Yates  to  Ridgeway  with  the 
mail  bag  on  his  arm. 

He  died  February  8th,  18G8,  aged  eighty-six 
years. 

JOHN    H.    TYLER. 

John  H.  Tyler  was  born  in  Randolph,  Orange  Co., 
Vermont,   November  30th,   1793.     He  attended  the 


OF   OKLKAiN'S    COUNTY.  415 

academy  in  Randolpli  a  short  time  and  removed  to 
Massena,  N.  Y.,  in  1810.  On  war  with  Great  Britain 
being  declared  in  1812,  lie  volunteered  as  a  soldier 
and  served  near  Ogdensbnrgh  six  months.  In  1817. 
he  removed  to  the  Holland  Purchase,  and  March  22d 
took  an  article  for  one  hundred  Sf.'venty-six  acres  of 
land  in  Yates,  part  of  lot  two,  section  two,  range 
three,  on  Johnson's  Creek,  on  which  he  afterwards 
resided  and  labored  as  a  farmer.  He  was  Supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Yates  nine  years,  justice  of  the  peace 
a  number  of  years,  and  represented  the  county  of 
Orleans  in  the  Assembly  of  the  State  in  1830  and  '31. 
He  was  a  man  of  vigorous  intellect  and  good  judg- 
ment, and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew 
him. 

He  married  Selina  Gil  bert,  daughter  of  Simeon  Gil- 
bert, of  Yates,  in  1819.  She  died  October  7th,  1842. 
He  married  Saloma  Gates,  daughter  of  Daniel  Gates, 
of  Carlton,  in  1843. 

He  died  in  August,  1850. 

IIOUACK    O.    GOOLJ). 

Horace  O.  Goold  was  born  in  Lyme,  New  Lon- 
don county,  Connecticut,  August  12th,  1800.  In 
March,  1818,  in  company  with  two  other  men  in  a 
one  horse  wagon,  he  came  to  Bloomlield,  N.  Y.,  after 
a  journey  of  fifteen  days.  He  labored  on  a  faym  the 
next  summer,  taught  school  the  next  winter,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1810,  removed  to  Carlton,  IN".  Y.,  and 
located  about  two  miles  west  of  the  head  of  Still- 
water. 

The  first  year  of  his  settlement  here  lie  raised 
thirty  bushels  of  corn  and  as  many  bushels  of  pota- 
toes. 

Mr.  Goold  said:  ''During  the  first  season  we 
were  sometimes  rather  short  of  food,  especially  meat, 
but  some  of  the  boys  would  often  Idll  some  wild  an- 


410  PIONEER  H1.ST0RY 

imal,  and  we  were  not  very  particular  wliat  name  it 
hore,  as  liiiuger  had  driven  us  '  to  esteem  nothing  un- 
clean, but  to  receive  it  with  thanksgiving.'" 

Mr.  Cxoold  married  Laurenda  Fullei',  of  Carlton, 
'November  ir)th,  1820. 

Several  jears  before  his  death,  Mr.  Goold  removed 
to  Lyndonville,  in  Yates,  where  he  died  October  nth, 
1865.     His  wife  died  October  24th,  1865. 

JOSIAll    J'EHli\. 

Josiah  Ferry  was  born  in  Shaftsbury,  Vermont, 
Sejitember  6th,  1787.  He  removed  to  Yates  in  April, 
1817,  and  commenced  clearing  a  farm,  and  planted 
and  raised  corn  and  j)otatoes  among  the  logs  and 
sowed  some  wheat,  all  the  first  year. 

Tli(^  people  in  Yates,  in  those  days,  generally  went 
to  Dunham's  gristmill,  at  Kuckville,  in  Carlton,  to 
get  grain  ground,  and  Mr.  Perry  relates  of  his  carry- 
ing a  bushel  of  wheat  on  his  back  a  half  dozen  miles 
to  that  mill  to  be  ground,  going  through  the  woods 
by  marked  trees,  no  road  being  cut  out. 

Mr.  Peny  taught  the  first  school  that  was  kejit  in 
town.  He  held  office  as  justice  of  the  peace  a  short 
time.     He  is  yet  living  in  Yates. 

ALFRED     BULLARD. 

Alfred  Bullard  was  born  in  Barre,  Massachusetts, 
February  10th,  1793. 

He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Shrewsbury,  Ver- 
mont, and  there  received  a  fair  common  school  edu- 
cation,  with  the  addition  of  a  knowledge  of  field  sur- 
veying. 

In  1817  he  came  to  Batavia,  Genesee  county,  and 
in  1818  he  removed  to  Barre,  Orleans  county,  and  he 
finally  settled  in  Yates  in  1824,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided. 

For  many  years  after  coming  into  this  county,  his 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  41'^ 

principal  enij)loynient  consisted  in  surveying  land, 
and  lie  was  known  to  almost  eveiybody  in  Orleans 
county  as  "  Surve^^or  Bullard/  AVhen  Ik?  was  not 
surveying  he  worked  on  a  farm.  He  married  C}'nthia 
Peck  in  1821.  She  died  and  he  niariied  Sally  Smith, 
who  is  dead  also. 

Mr.  Bullard  has  not  engaged  in  surveying  for  a 
number  of  years  on  account  of  lameness,  which  com- 
pelled him  to  use  one,  and  sometimes  two  canes  in 
walking.  He  may  be  considered  the  pioneer  surve^'or 
located  in  Orleans  county. 

IIKNIIY     MC  NKAL. 

Henry  McNeal  was  born  in  Pittstown,  Rensselaer 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1702. 

He  married  Lucy  Sternberg  in  1814.  They  moved 
to  Yates  in  1817.   ' 

Mr.  McNeal  was  tlie  lirst  Ca.])taiu  of  a.  militia,  com- 
pany in  Yates. 

AMOS    Sl'ENCKK. 

Amos  Spencer  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1787. 
He  married  Jerusha  Murdock,  September  10th, 
1811.  They  moved  to  Yates  and  settled  on  the  lake 
shore  in  1818. 

After  a  few  years  they  removed  to  Hartland,  Ni 
agara  county,  where  he  was  living  in  1870.  Thi^  lirst 
year  he  resided  in  Yat(\s,  he  cleared  the  land  and  sowed 
ten  acres  with  winter  wht^at.  On  this  the  next  year 
he  harvested  three  hundred  and  thirty  bushels  ol 
wheat.  He  drew  forty  bushels  to  Ridgeway  Corners, 
hired  Amos  Barrett  to  cavry  it  to  Rocliester  with  his 
team,  gave  him  five  dollars  for  drawing  and  paid  hin 
expenses  on  th(?  road.  Me  sold  his  wheat  for  fifty- 
four  cents  per  bushel.  They  were  gone  four  days, 
and  on  getting  home  fouud  thay  had  only  five  dollars 

27 


418  PIONKEK    HISTORY 

of  the  money  receivtxl  for  their  wheat  h^Si,  all  the  re- 
mainder having  been  spent  in  ])aying  nece.ssary  ex- 
penses. 

ELISllA    SAWYF.K. 

Elisha  Hawj'er  was  born  in  Keading,  Vermont, 
September  30th,  1785.  He  settled  in  Yates  m  1816. 
He  took  up  four  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  south 
line  of  the  town.  After  somt'  years  he  removed  to 
Lyndonville  on  a  small  place.  He  removed  to  Pax- 
ton,  Illinois,  and  died  tliere  l)eceniber  8th,  1808. 

BAKUC'II   II.   '.;ili;kkt. 

Baruch  H.  Gilbert  was  born  in  the  town  of  North- 
east, Dut<3hess  county,  IN^ew  York,  Angust  24th, 
1705. 

His  father,  Simeon  Gilbert,  came  to  Yates  in  the 
fall  of  1816,  and  took  an  article  of  land  on  the  west 
side  of  the  line  between  ranges  three  and  fonr,  about 
?v  mile  and  a  half  south  from  lake  Ontario,  and  re- 
turned to  his  eastern  home  without  making  any  im- 
provement on  his  lands,  to  wliicli  he  did  not  return 
irntil  the  spring  of  1818. 

Baruch  H.  Gilbert  settled  on  the  south  part  of  the 
land  so  taken  by  his  father  in  the  spring  of  1817,  and 
cleared  a  farm  there  on  wliich  he  i-esided  about  fifty 
years. 

Mr.  Gilbert  was  of  fair  education,  of  considerable 
spirit  and  energy  t)f  character,  and  settling  in  this 
town  among  the  very  iirst,  he  interested  himself  in 
every  movement  made  to  improve  the  country,  intro- 
duce and  maintain  the  institutions  of  civilized  society 
and  induce  people  to  settle  in  Yates.  He  soon  took  a 
prominent  position  in  the  business  of  his  town  and 
neighborhood,  and  as  long  as  he  resided  here  he 
was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  all  public  affairs.  He 
officiated  as  justice  of   the  peace  for    thirty  years. 


OF   OKLEANS  COUNTY.  419 

He  miiiTied  Miss  Fanny  Skellenger  in  1821.  His 
children  are  Simeon,  who  married  Oliv*-  Skellinger, 
and  resides  in  Illinois  ;  Stephen  B.,  married  Ann 
Watkins,  resides  in  California  ;  Xathan  S.,  married 
Mary  E.  Lane,  resides  in  Loekport  ;  and  Cord^^lia, 
who  is  unmarried. 

ELISIIA   IJOWEN. 

Dr.  Elisha  Bowen  was  born  in  Reading,  Windsor 
connty,  Vermont,  in  the  year  1791. 

He  received  a  diploma  from  Dartmonth  College. 
He  was  lirst  married  and  removed  to  Palmyj-a,  N.  Y., 
in  1817,  where  his  wife  died. 

In  the  3^ear  1820  he  removed  to  tlie  town  of  Yates, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  between  Yates  Center  and  the 
lake. 

He  was  the  first,  and  for  several  years  the  onl>- 
regular  physician  i-esiding  and  practicing  in  the  town 
of  Yates. 

He  married  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Adeline  Raw- 
son.  After  her  death  he  married  for  his  thiid  wifV- 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Clark.     She  died  in  18G1. 

Dr.  Bowen  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  nine  are 
living,  viz.:  Francis  W.,  married  a  danghter  of  Dr. 
Whaley,  resides  in  Sacramento,  California  ;  Samuel 
C,  married  Kate,  daughter  of  James  Jackson,  of 
Ridgeway,  resides  in  Medina  ;  Adeline,  unmarried, 
resides  in  Wisconson;  Charles  (/.,  married  Julia  Hard, 
resides  in  Detroit  ;  Edgar  .].,  nmrried  Mar;v  Winn, 
resides  in  Chicago ;  Susan,  married  H.  L.  Achilles, 
Jr.,  resides  in  Rochester ;  Cornelia,  married  Samuel 
Boyd,  resides  in  Appleton,  Wisconsin  ;  Mary,  un- 
married resides  at  Appleton,  Wisconsin  ;  Theodore 
E.,  married  Mary  Loomis,  resides  in  Chicago. 

Dr.  Bowen  was  one  of  thirteen  persons  who  united 
to  form  the  Baptist  Church  in  Yates,  in  1822,  ot 
which  church  he  continued  an  active  member  until 


420  PIOXEER  IIISTORY 

his  death.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,, 
and  amono;  the  lirst  who  united  in  the  town  of  Yates- 
to  form  a  society  to  promote  that  cause. 

Dr.  Bowen  was  conscientious  and  correct  in  all  the 
iiahits  of  his  life,  and  had  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  all  who  knew  him.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life 
he  did  not  jDractice  his  profession.  He  died  April  6.. 
1863,  aged  72  years.     • 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES    OF    JOSEPH    ELLICOTT    AND 
EBENEZER   MIX. 

JOSEPH   ELLICOTT. 

Altliougli  Mr.  Ellicott  was  never  a  resident  of  Or- 
leans county,  and  consequently  not  strictly  included 
among  its  pioneers,  whose  histoiy  it  is  the  main  ob- 
ject of  this  work  to  record,  yet,  as  the  agent  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company  for  so  many  years-  no  man 
had  more  to  do  in  organizing  and  settling  this  county, 
and  in23lanning  and  bringing  into  action  the  means  by 
which  tlie  varied  resources  of  Western  New  York 
have  been  developed. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Ellicott  came  from  Wales  to 
America  at  an  early  day,  and  were  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Buck's  county,  Pennsj'lvania. 

Mr.  Joseph  Ellicott  was  thoroughly  educated  as  a 
surveyor,  by  lessons  given  him  by  his  elder  brother 
Andrew.  His  first  practical  lessons  were  taken  while 
assisting  his  brother  in  surveying  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington, after  that  place  liad  been  selected  for  the  Na- 
tional Capitol. 

In  1791  he  was  aj)pointed  to  run  the  line  between 
Georgia  and  the  Creek  Indians.  He  was  then  en- 
gaged in  surveying  the  lands  of  the  Holland  Company 
lying  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  When  this  was 
completed  he  was  sent  to  survey  the  Company's  lands 
in  Western  New  York. 

He  spent  many  years  in  the  woods,  in  the  arduous 
labors  of  a  surveyor,  and  when  he  left  tlie  woods  to 


422  ptonp:ek  irisTOKY 

engage  in  the  business  of  local  agent  of  the  Company, 
his  toil  was  scarcely  lessened.  During  this  time  he 
carried  on  an  immense  correspondence  with  the  gene- 
ral office,  at  Philadelphia,  in  reference  to  the  business 
entrusted  to  him,  and  also  with  the  prominent  men 
of  his  time  and  country  in  relation  to  public  affairs 
generally,  in  which  he  manifested  great  interest.  He 
is  es])ecially  reuKMubered  aside  from  his  connexion 
with  the  Holland  Land  Company,  for  the  part  he 
took  in  promoting  that  great  work  of  internal  im- 
provement, the  Erie  Canal.  With  the  schemes  for 
the  origin  and  prosecution  of  that  woi-k,  and  its  pro- 
gress to  success,  he  was  conspicuously  identified; 
and  among  the  great  men  Avliose  comprehensive 
minds  devised  that  canal,  and  urged  it  forward  to 
completion,  his  name  will  ever  rank  among  the 
first. 

By  a  lite  of  activity  and  enterpiise,  he  was  enabled 
to  accumulate  a  large  property  without  being 
charged  with  peculation  in  office,  or  mal-admin- 
istration  of  the  vast  business  entrusted  to  his 
carc^ 

A  spirit  of  discontent  had  begun  to  be  manifested 
among  the  settlers  on  the  Holland  Purchase,  growing- 
out  of  their  enormous  indebtedness  to  the  Company 
for  their  lands  which  they  had  been  permitted  to 
buy  on  credit,  and  while  the  leniency  of  the  agents 
had  not  enforced  payment  on  their  contracts,  accu- 
mlating  interest  liad  largely'  swelled  the  original 
debts. 

Worried  and  worn  by  the  load  of  labor  he  had 
sustained,  and  aware  of  the  discontent  which  pre- 
vailed, and  which  he  hoped  might  be  allayed  if  direc- 
ted by  other  counsels,  Mr.  E.  resigned  his  agency,  and 
thus  closed  a  busy  life.  From  that  time  he  was  afflic- 
ted with  a  uKmomania  upon  real  or  imaginaiy  diseases 
with  which   he   believed   liimself  to  suffer.     He  was 


OF   ORLEAjSTH   OOUNTl'.  423 

taken  by  liis  friends  to  New  York  and  i:>l'dced  in  the 
hospital  at  Belle\ne,  Avh^i-e  about  Angust,  1826,  he 
committed  suicide 

Joseph  Ellicott  was  never  married,  but  for  his  nu 
merous  family  of  relativos  he  made  most   ample  pro- 
vision, some  of  the  choicest  lands  on  the  Holland  Pur- 
chase being  selected  and  secured  by  title  to  tlie  Elli 
cotts. 

His  remains  weri'  brouglit  to  Batavia  and  interred 
in  the  village  cemetery,  a  beautiful  monument  being- 
erected  under  the  superintence  of  David  E.  Evans, 
his  neph«nv,  and  successor  as  local  agent  of  tiie  Hol- 
land Comjjany,  marks  the  spot. 

From  his  intimate  accpiaintance  as  surveyor  with 
the^olland  Purchas*^  lands  in  Western  New  York, 
he  was  enabled  to  make  some  Judicious  selections  of 
lands  for  himself. 

In  the  original  survey  of  Buffalo,  he  laid 
off  for  himself  one  hundred  acres,  now  included  in 
the  best  part  of  that  city. 

In  the  county  of  Orleans  he  bought  seven  hundred 
acres,  including  the  water  power  at  Shelby  Center, 
and  afterwards  fourteen  hundred  acres  farther  down 
the  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  whicli  included  the  vil 
hige  of  ]Vledina,  and  the  b(^st  water  poAver  on  that 
creek. 

About  the  year  1<S24  he  made  his  will,  in  which  he 
devised  a  hirge  part  of  his  great  landed  estate  in 
special  gifts  to  his  fa\'orite  relatives.  The  lesidue 
was  devised  to  others  of  his  kindred,  nearly  one  hun- 
dred in  number,  slinre  and  share  [ilike,  with  a  few 
exceptions. 

His  pi-operty  at  thii  time  of  liis  death,  even  at  the 
low  j)rice  lands  then  bore,  was  estimated  at  six 
hundnKl  thousand  dollars.  From  the  great  advance 
in  value  at  this  time,  this  proy)erty  is  worth  many 
millions  of  dollars. 


424  PIONEER   IIISTOKY 

He  was  tlie  first  Judge  appointed  in  and  for  Gene- 
see county  courts. 

EBENEZEIl   MIX. 

Ebenezer  Mix  is  a  name  familiar  as  liouseliold 
words  to  the  old  settlers  on  the  Holland  Purchase, 
and  no  history  of  tlie  jiioneers,  or  of  the  early  settle- 
ment, could  h('  made  complete  without  a  reference  to 
him. 

Mr.  Mix  was  born  at  New  Haven.  Connecticut.  He 
died  at  Cleveland.  Ohio,  January  12th,  1869,  aged 
81  years. 

In  his  native  IS'ew  England  he  learned  and  worked 
at  the  trade  of  a  mason. 

He  came  to  Batavia,  Genesee  county,  to  seek  his 
fortune,  in  the  year  1809.  There  he  worked  tirst  at 
his  trade  as  a  mason.  He  afterwards  taught  school  ; 
was  for  a  time  a  student  in  a  law  office,  and  finally 
went  into  the  service  of  the  Holland  Land  Company 
as  a  clerk  in  their  office  at  Batavia,  in  1811,  where  he 
remained  twenty-seven  years. 

Being  a  good  theoretical  and  })ractical  surveyor, 
and  a  clear  headed  and  competent  business  man,  in 
a  short  time  lie  was  made  contracting  clerk  in  the 
Batavia  office,  in  which  capacity  it  was  his  duty 
to  make,  renew  and  modify  contracts  for  the  sale  of 
land,  calculate  quantities  of  land,  make  sub-divisions 
of  tracts  of  land,  and  act  as  salesman  generally.  In 
this  way  he  became  intimatel}'  connected  with  every 
transaction  of  the  Company  relating  to  gifts  of  land 
to  churches  and  school  districts,  and  took  part  in  all 
business  matters  between  the  company  and  the  people 
who  settled  on  their  lands.  ^Vnd  few  men  could  be 
found  who  would  have  done  the  Inisiness  as  well. 
He  excelled  as  a  mathematician,  was  a  practical  sur- 
veyor and  possessed  a  remarkable  meniorj'"  of  boun- 
daries,  localities,   dates  and  distances.     Indeed  the 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  425 

whole  transactions  of  the  Land  Compan}',  and  tlie 
map  of  their  territory  seemed  to  be  pictured  on  his 
mind  with  singular  fidelity,  making  it  a  treasury  of 
facts,  exceedingly  convenient  for  reference  in  settling 
conflicting  questions  concerning  highway's,  bounda- 
ries and  original  surveys,  which  arise  among  the 
people. 

Naturally  (jf  a  somewhat  irritable  tempera m(:>nt, 
when  aroused  by  the  perjilexities  of  Inisiness,  he 
was  sometimes  rather  sour  and  rough  in  manner  to- 
wards persons  by  wdiom  he  was  annoyed,  but  his 
wish  and  aim  was  to  do  right  and  justice,  and  how- 
ever austere  and  crabbed  his  manner,  his  conclusions 
and  flnal  settlement  of  matters  he  had  in  hand  was 
kind  and  benevolent  to  those  with  whom  he  had  to 
do. 

Full  many  a  tiiwe  has  the  unfortunate  settler  who 
had  been  unable  to  make  the  payments  on  his  article, 
and  whom  sickness  and  calamity  had  driven  almost 
to  despair  of  ever  paying  for  his  land,  had  reason  to 
be  grateful  for  the  humanity  and  generous  treatment 
he  received  from  Mr.  Mix  in  extending  his  payments, 
renewing  his  article,  and  abating  his  interest 
money. 

In  the  war  of  1812  he  served  for  a  time  as  volun- 
teer aid  to  Gen.  P.  B.  Porter,  and  was  at  the  sortie 
at  Fort  Erie. 

For  twent}^  years  in  succession  he  was  the  Surro- 
gate of  Genesee  county. 


ORLEANS  COUNTY  PIONEER  ASSOCIATION. 


This  Association  was  organized  June,  18o9.  Its 
m<nnbers  are  persons  wlio  at  an_v  time  pi-evious  to 
January,  1826,  were  residents  of  Western  New^  York, 
who  sign  its  Constitution.  Tlie  ol:)jects  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, as  contained  in  its  constitution,  ai'o  to  pro- 
mote social  intercourse  by  meeting  together  statedly, 
in  order  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  the  remembrance 
of  interesting  facts  connected  Avitli  the  early  history 
of  the  st^ttlement  of  Orleans  count}'  and  its  vicini- 
ty. Tile  annual  meetings  are  lield  at  the  Court 
House,  in  Albion,  on  the  third  Saturday  in  June. 

It  has  been  an  object  o^  the  Association  to  collect 
and  pi'eserve  as  much  of  tli(^  history  of  the  early  set- 
tlement of  Orleans  count}^  as  possible.  Tiie  local 
history  of  many  of  the*  (\irly  jDioneers  has  been  ob- 
tained and  written  out  in  books  kept  for  tliat  pur- 
pose, and  sev>eral  photograph  albunis  have  been 
filled  with  the  ])ictures  of  the  men  and  ANomen  wdio 
came  here  at  an   early   day. 

At  these  yeai'ly  gatherings,  and  at  occasional  spe- 
cial meetings  held  from  time  to  time  in  various  ])laces 
in  the  county,  the  old  peoph^  ai'e  accustomed  to  meet 
together  and  recount  their  adventures  while  subduing 
the  wilderness,  and  have  a  good  time  generally. 

It  is  intended  to  obtain  as  much  of  such  history  of 
" 'ye  olden  time  •'  as  possible,  and  when  the  actors 
in  these  old  scenes  are  no  more,  and  the  last  of  the 
log  houses   shall  exist  only  in  the  memoi-y  and   rec- 


OF  ORLEANS   COUNTY.  427 

ords  of  the]" times  gone  by,  tlien  these  old  manuscripts 
and  relics,  laid  up  in  some  public  depository,  sliall 
remain  for  the  information  of  posterity  of  the  things 
that  were  here,  memories  of  the  hardships,  labors, 
and  privations  of  tlK*  pioneers  of  Orleans  county. 


ADDRESS 


DELIVERED   BEFORE  THE  ORLEANS  COUNTY  PIONEER  ASSOCIA- 
TION, SEPT.  10th,  1S59, 
By    ARAE>    THOMAS. 


Mr.  Prcnidenf,  and  Members  of  (he  Orleans  County  Pioneer  Association  : — 

In  discliarging  the  pleasant  duty  of  addressing  you 
on  the  present  occasion,  I  am  desirous  to  devote  my 
thoughts  to  the  consideration  of  topics  kindred  to  the 
sentiments  whicli  led  to  the  formation  of  this  associ- 
ation. 

This  seems  no  fit  time  to  indulge  in  abstruse  spec- 
ulations, or  idle  rhetoric.  1  address  a  pra(;tical  com- 
pany,— men  who  have  been  trained  to  meet  the  stern 
realities  of  life,  and  accomplish  their  destiny  with  un- 
Hinching  labor  ;  and  having  achieved  a  good  work, 
well  may  they  enjoy  the  triumph  it  affords.  Let  us 
then  contemplate  the  past,  and  learn  wisdom  for  the 
future. 

A  stranger,  who  now  for  the  first  time  should  come 
into  our  county,  judging  from  appearances,  would 
be  apt  to  think  this  an  old  settlement,  where  genera- 
tion after  generation  of  men  had  lived  and  died,  and 
where  their  accumulated  labor  had  been  expended 
upon  those  works  of  enlightened  civilization  which 
cover  the  land.  But  we  know  scarce  fifty  years 
since  the  first  acre  of  this  territory  was  ch^ared  of  its 
native  forest,  and  the  men  are  now  living  who  recol- 
lect when  here  was  nothing  but  a  dark,  unbroken 
wilderness. 

Man}^  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  county  have 
passed  away  from  among  th»'  living.     Others  follow- 


OF   ORLEANS   COUNTY.  429 

ing  in  the  tide  of  emigration  are  now  inhabitants  of 
some  Western  States.  A  few  survivors  and  represen- 
tatives of  a  generation  ra])id]y  passing  away,  remain 
quiet  possessors  of  the  soil  their  liands  tirst  subjected  to 
cultivation,  and  today  they  have  assembled  to  talk  over 
the  trials  and  iirivations,  the  hardships  and  the  suf- 
ferings, the  varied  events  of  fortune,  j)rosperous  and 
adverse,  which  have  fallen  to  their  lot  since  first  they 
came  into  this  county. 

The  0(;casion  is  replet(^  with  interest  to  us  all.  To 
the  aged  veterans,  it  brings  up  memories  of  events, 
which  in  passing  thril]<^d  their  hearts  with  intensest 
emotion. 

To  the  more  youthful  spectator  it  aflbrds  encour- 
agement to  labor,  in  view  of  these  examples  of  suc- 
cess over  every  opposition,  obtained  by  resolute  and 
continued  exertion.  And  to  us  all,  it  shows  convin- 
cing proofs  that  honest  and  laudable  industry  will 
reap  its  rewards  in  due  time. 

Our  theme  embraces  the  consideration  of  subjects 
connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  Orleans  county. 
In  tracing  the  history  of  mankind  in  their  migrations 
since  their  memorable  dispersion  on  the  plains  of 
Shinar,  we  find  a  variety  of  causes  which  have  impelled 
men  to  remove  from  the  places  of  their  nativity.  Tlie 
venerable  founder  of  the  Jewish  nation  went  down  to 
Egypt  to  save  liis  family  from  death  by  famine,  and 
his  descendents  came  out  of  Egypt  to  save  themselves 
from  a  terrible  bondage. 

The  builders  of  ancient  Rome  were  tlie  scattered 
fragments  of  various  nations  who  assembled  there  as 
to  a  coDunon  asylum  of  outcasts  from  everywhere, 
and  raised  their  walls  for  mutual  protection  and  sup- 
port ;  and  by  encouraging  immigration  from  broad,  and 
the  gradual  accretion  of  ^^ower  by  treaty,  and  con- 
quest of  foreign  nations,  in  time  they  became  the 
mightiest  empire  on  earth,  in  their  turn  to  be  overrun 


430  PIONEEK  HISTORY 

by  swarms  from  tlie  northern  hive,  who,  deserting  their 
inhospitable  homes,  came  down  with  all  their  move- 
able possessions,  by  fire  and  sword,  to  drive  out  the 
inhabitants  of  the  fair  provinces  of  Italy,  and  give 
themselves  a  better  land. 

The  Spaniards  who  first  settled  in  America,  were 
attracted  there  by  their  cupidity  for  gold.  And 
the  ranks  of  the  settlers  in  most  new  countries  have 
been  swelled  by  adventurers  who  had  been  obliged 
to  leave  their  native  land  to  escape  the  consequences 
of  their  crimes. 

A  nobler  impulse  prompted  our  ancestors  in  their 
migrations  from  Europe. 

The  discovery  of  America,  the  invention  of  print- 
ing, and  the  Protestant  Reformation  had  roused  the 
minds  of  the  most  intelligent  nations  of  the  w^orld  to  a 
more  exalted  sense  of  the  value  of  liberty,  and  a  keen 
j)erception  of  those  natural  and  inalienable  rights  of 
conscience  which  form  the  richest  possession  of  a  free 
people.  Persecuted  for  conscience  sake  in  their  na- 
tive country,  England,  they  had  borne  for  years  the 
cruel  oppression  which  religious  intolerance  and  po- 
litical tyranny  forced  upon  them  there,  with  christian 
endurance,  till  overcome  by  suffering  too  grievous  to 
be  borne,  and  hopeless  of  relief,  they  solemnly  with- 
drew from  their  national  church  and  from  the  land 
of  their  birth,  to  Holland,  where,  some  years  after 
they  formed  and  carried  out  the  resolution  to  emi- 
grate to  America,  there,  under  the  protection  of  the 
King  of  England,  they  thought  to  worship  God  in 
peace,  as  they  believed" to  be  right. 

Piety  and  love  of  liberty  furnished  them  sufficient 
motives  for  removal,  and  armed  them,with  fortitude 
required  to  meet  the  perils  and  hardships  of  their 
new  home. 

With  all  proper  admiration  which  we  ought  to  feel 
for  the  early  New  England  Puritans,  the  ancestors 


OF   OllLEATs'S   eOLTN'TY.  431 

of  SO  many  of  tliose  wlio  liear  mo,  we  may  admit 
they  liad  their  failings.  In  the  austerity  of  their 
faith  they  often  forgot  the  mild  spirit  of  charity 
which  pervades  the  gospel  they  re^'ered,  and  in  the 
ardor  of  their  zeal  tliey  made  and  sought  to  en- 
force laws  of  great  severit}^  against  those  professing 
religious  belief  at  variance  with  the  dogmas  of  their 
stern  creed,  and  punished  and  persecuted  with  a 
strange  infatuation,  those  charged  with  the  crime  of 
witchcraft. 

But  in  reviewing  this  portion  of  the  history  of  our 
forefathers,  we  should  remember  not  to  Judge  them 
by  the  lights  of  the  present  age.  Toleration  to  faith 
and  worship,  contrary-  to  the  forms  declared  by  the 
civil  government  for  a  thousand  years,  had  then  not 
been  known  in  Euroix\  and  the  opinion  of  good  men 
had  before  then  always  been,  that  such  religious  free- 
dom would  destroy  the  best  institutions  of  society. 
A  belief  in  witchcraft  was  as  old  as  history  itself, 
and  was  a  common  superstition  of  the  times.  The 
excellent  and  pious  Baxter  held  the  existence  of 
witches  as  certain  as  the  punishment  of  the  wicked, 
and  the  great  and  good  Sir  Matthew  Hale,  that  able 
judge,  and  profound  luminary  of  the  law,  believed  in 
witchcraft  as  sincerely  as  did  Cotton  Mather. 

The  superstitions  of  the  dark  ages  were  then  enter- 
tained by  the  most  enlightened  and  liberal  minded  men 
everywhere,  and  it  would  be  requiring  too  much,  to 
expect  our  forefathers  to  have  freed  themselves  from 
opinions  we  may  deem  absurd,  but  which  up  to  that 
time,  and  by  all  otlier  men  then,  \\  ere  held  woi'thy  of 
acceptation. 

I  know  we  are  sometimes  charged  with  using  ex- 
travagant eulogium  in  speaking  of  the  New  England 
Puritans  of  the  okhni  time.  But  making  due  allow- 
ance for  their  eccentricities  of  character  and  conduct, 
resulting  from  circumstances  with  which  they  stood 


432  PIONEER   HISTORY 

connected,  wo  may  look  in  vain  to  find  in  the  early 
history  of  any  other  people,  snch  noble  patriotism, 
fervent  piety,  sound  wisdom,  and  incorruptible  hon^ 
esty  as  in  the  case  before  us. 

They  had  all  been  trained  in  the  same  school  of 
adversity,  and  possessed  in  a  wonderful  degree  Iden- 
tit}^  of  sentiment,  sympathy  and  character  in  all  their 
conduct  and  opinions  which  impressed  itself  upon  all 
their  laws,  their  individual  and  social  arrangements, 
and  njion  every  institution  and  action  which  found 
place  among  them. 

Intiexible  and  steadfast  in  their  cherished  princi- 
ples, they  trained  their  children  in  the  faith  and  prac* 
tices  of  their  fathers,  and  the  combined  influence  of 
such  faith  and  works,  we  may  see  in  their  effects 
upon  the  energy  and  enterprise,  the  love  of  liberty, 
the  respect  for  law  and  order,  good  morals,  religion, 
learning  and  true  patriotism,  which,  inspired  by  such 
examples,  has  ever  distingushed  their  descendants 
down  tlirough  the  period  of  more  than  two  hundred 
years. 

We  need  not  sounding  eulogy  or  words  of  windy 
panegyric  to  prove  the  value  of  New  England  intelli- 
gence, integrity  and  power,  in  moulding  and  guiding 
the  rising  destinies  of  our  country.  The  wisdom  of 
her  statesmen,  the  heroism  of  her  soldiers,  and  the 
spirit  and  conduct  of  her  people,  secured  our  nation- 
al independence,  and  established  our  national  federa- 
tion of  independent  States  upon  the  broad  basis  of 
constitutional  liberty.  And  even  up  to  now  this  ele- 
ment has  always  been  prominent,  I  had  almost  said 
controlling,  in  the  legislation  of  most  of  the  States, 
and  at  Washington. 

A  few  years  since  some  curious  individual  ascer' 
tained  on  enquiry,  that  thirtj'^-six  of  the  members  of 
the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  then  in  session,  were 
born  in  the  single  State  of  Connecticut. 


OK   ORLEANS   COT^XTY.  433 

In  tljf  ]MJi,<i,uag«-  of  Mr.  MMltlius.  iiifui  coming  up 
to  take  ii]ioii  liiniself  his  plaiv,  and  the  lesponsibili- 
ties  ol*  life,  lincls  no  cover  laid  for  liini  on  nature's 
table,  and  lie  goen  out  to  spread  a  table  for  himself 
where  he  de<nnts  the  prospect  most  inviting.  The  rich 
treasures  of  experince  and  wisdom,  and  the  abundant 
stores  of  material  good  things  the  ]>ast  has  garnered 
up,  afford  him  capital  with  wlii(,'h  to  work  out  the 
fultilment  of  his  own  and  his  country's  hopt's. 

These  magnificent  results  of  the  skill  and  enter- 
prise of  the  pres<ait  day,  are  only  other  phases  and 
demonstrations  of  the  same  spirit  which  led  to  the 
first  settlement  in  America,  and  which  has  attended 
every  step  of  our  progress  since,  as  well  exemplified  iu 
the  resolution  of  the  solitary  emigrant  who  sets  Ms 
stake  in  the  wilderness  and  determines  there  to  dig- 
up  for  himself  a,  farm,  as  in  that  mightier  work  of  a 
statesman,  or  a  nation,  which  makes  a  canal  or  a 
railroad  across  a  continent,  lays  a  telegraph  wire 
across  an  oct>an,  or  solv«^s  tlie  deepest  pi'oblem  of 
state  policy  for  the  world. 

Soon  after  the  revolutionaiy  war  had  ended,  the 
Bettlem<?nts  in  I»few  England  wei-e  extended  over  the 
the  ]irinci]jal  part  of  those  States  suitable  for  tillage,, 
and  multitudes  of  their  active  and  adventurous  young 
men  went  out  to  seek  their  fortunes  among  tlie  bor- 
derers who  were  pushing  tlie  bounds  of  civilization 
and  imi)rovement  back  into  the  new  territories,  skirt 
ing  the  old  Atlantic  Staters  upoii  tlie  West. 

A  large  majority  of  the  fii'st  settlers  of  Orleans 
county  wei'e  either  emigrants  from  New  England, 
or  descended  from  the  Puritan  stock,  who  traced  their 
origin  back  to  those  who,  in  l)(,'ceniber,  1(520,  lauded 
from  the  May  Flower  upon  Plymouth  Rock.  It  5s 
admitted  that  as  a  class  they  were  ])oor  but  honest, 
possessing  strong  mora!  convictions,  of  effective  force 
of  intellect  and  will,  they  determined  to  plant  and 

28 


434  PIONEEi:    HISTOKV 

grow  up  the  institutions  of  religion,  order  and 
civilization  in  this  wilderness,  such  as  prevailed  in 
their  New  England  homes.  Such  views,  habits  and 
purposes,  characterized  the  emigrants  who  tirst  set- 
tled AVestern  New  York.  Here  was  not  the  hiding 
j)hice  of  a  population  of  whom  it  might  justly  be 
said  they  had  left  the  homes  of  their  youth  as  a 
measure  of  prudent  care  for  tlieii-  personal  safety, 
cr  from  a  kind  regard  for  the  good  of  the  place  they 
had  left.  Neither  did  they  come  here  to  buy  choice 
lots  and  leave  them  till  the  toil  of  others  on  adjoin- 
ing farms  should  add  value  to  their  purchases.  Here 
were  few  non-resident  land  holders  at  an  early 
day. 

The  Holland  Land  Company  had  purchased  the 
Western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  bounded  on 
the  east  by  a  line  extending  north  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Lake  Ontario,  known  as  the  Transit 
Line. 

Before  the  last  war  with  (xieat  Britain,  a  portion  of 
this  tract  which  has  been  distinguished  as  the  Hol- 
land Purchase,  had  been  surveyed  by  the  Company 
and  offered  for  sale  to  settlers.  The  wonderful  fertil- 
ity of  the  Genesee  countr>^  liad  T»een  reported  abroad, 
and  before  the  war  a  few  emigrants  had  begun  to 
make  their  homes  among  the  heavy  forests  which 
covered  this  country,  some  of  whom  had  located 
themselves  in  what  is  now  Orleans  county. 

The  possibility  of  such  a  work  as  the  Erie  Canal 
had  not  then  entered  the  great  mind  of  Dewitt  Clin- 
ton, or  been  dreamed  of 'even  by  the  great  men  of 
that  day. 

The  most  favorable  means  in  prospect,  then  far  iu 
the  future,  for  communic;iling  with  the  old  settle- 
ments at  the  east,  was  by  wagons  on  the  highwaj^s, 
or  boats  down  the  Mohawk  or  St.  Lawrence.  But 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  Holland  Purchase  belonged 


OF   ORLEAlS^y   COUNTY.  435 

to  a  bold  and  fearlesa  race,  who  did  not  stop  to  en- 
quire whether  the  trail  of  civilization  had  extended 
to  the  new  country,  by  which  tliey  could  retreat  with 
ease  and  safety  to  the  homes  of  their  fathers,  if  life 
in  the  woods  should  happen  to  prove  uncongenial  to 
their  tastes.  They  expected  to  overcome  the  formi- 
dable obstacles  before  them  by  their  own  strong 
arms  and  stout  hearts.  They  knew  that  wealth  was 
in  their  farms,  not  perhaps  in  the  shape  of  golden 
nuggets,  such  as  hre  the  imagination  of  emigrants 
to  Pike's  Peak,  or  the  other  El  Dorados  of  the  West, 
but  in  the  golden  produce  of  well  tilled  fields,  which 
honest  hard  work  was  sure  to  raise  in  abundance 
in  time  to  come,  and  they  meant  to  have  it. 

It  is  really  not  as  great  an  undertaking  for  the  em- 
igrant, who  at  this  day  goes  from  tlie  Atlantic  States 
to  settle  in  Kansas  or  California,  as  it  was  fifty  years 
ago  to  make  a  settlement  in  Western  New  York. 
Railroads  and  telegraphs  have  made  communication 
easy  and  rapid  between  places  most  distant,  and 
modern  improvements  in  the  economy  and  arts  of  do- 
mestic life  are  such,  that  most  of  the  necessaries  and 
comforts  enjoyed  by  residents  in  older  towns  can 
readily  be  procured  everywhere. 

The  farmer  who  locates  on  a  prairie  at  the  West,  ])e- 
gins  his  work  by  plowing  the  primitive  sod,  and  the 
next  year  he  reaps  his  crop  and  finds  his  field  as 
clean  and  mellow  as  plow  land  along  tlie  Connec^ticut 
river,  and  he  can  sell  his  products  for  almost  New 
York  prices.  But  beginning  a  farm  on  the  Holland 
Purchase,  fi"?ty  3^ears  ago,  was  quite  a  different  busi- 
ness. 

Indeed,  we  who  have  not  learned  by  experience, 
can  hardly  imagine  the  obstacles  and  difliculties  to 
be  surmounted  by  the  first  settlers  of  Orleans  county. 
Roads  from  Albany,  westward,  were  bad  ;  merchants 
and  mechanics  had  not  yet  arrived.     A  dense  and 


486  PIONEER  HISTORY 

hnavy  forest  of  liard,  liiige  trees  covered  the  land,  to 
"be  felled  and  ckared  away  before  the  plow  of  the 
farmer  could  turn  up  the  genial  soil.  Pestilential  fe- 
vers racked  the  nerves  and  prostrated  the  vigor  of 
the'  stoutest,  as  well  as  the  weakest  among  them. 
The  ague,  that  pest  indigenous  to  all  new  countries, 
came  up  from  every  clearing^  usually  in  the  best 
days  of  summer,  to  seize  upon  the  settler,  his  wife 
and  children,  some  or  all  of  them,  and  shake  out  all 
their  strength  and  energy. 

Though  the  noblest  timber  trees  lor  their  buildings 
existed  in  troublesome  al)undance.  sawmills  had  not 
then  been  erected. 

Though  their  lands  produced  the  finest  of  wheat 
whenever  it  could  be  sown,  it  cost  more  than  its  mar- 
ket pri{;e  to  take  it  to  the  distant  grist  mills  to  be 
ground.  Sales  of  farm  produce  were  limited  to 
home  consum])tion. 

Before  the  War  of  1S12  but  i\\\\  settlers  had  loca- 
ted in  Orleans  county. 

From  Canandaigua  to  Lewiston,  along  the  llidge 
Road,  and  from  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek, 
along  an  Indian  Trail  to  Batavia,  the  trees  had  prin- 
cipally been  cut  wide  enough  for  a  highway.  A  few 
log  cabins  had  been  erected,  and  the  sturdy  emigrants 
had  begun  by  felling  the  trees  to  open  little  patches 
of  cleared  land  around  their  dwellings  to  form  the 
nucleus  of  their  farms. 

\^"ar  was  declared.  The  regular  pursuits  of  peace- 
ful industry  were  broken  up.  The  settler  was  sum- 
moned to  become  a  soldier,  and  at  the  call  of  his 
country,  at  times  almost  ev(^ry  able-bodied  man  in 
the  settlement  was  away  in  the  ranks  of  the  army, 
leaving  their  scattered,  unprotected  families,  to  risk 
the  chan(.'es  of  hostile  foi'ays  of  the  enemy,  often 
threatened  from  the  west  along  the  lake.  The  cour- 
age and  spirit  of  the  women  of  those  days  was  equal 


OF   OKLEANW   COUNTY.  437 

to' tile  best  exampleij  to  be  found  in  American  border 
warfare.  Neither  the  friglitfid  rumors  of  the  massa- 
cre of  their  husbands  and  brothers  in  the  light,  or  the 
terrible  announcements  that  the  Indians,  with  mur- 
der and  pillage,  were  sweeping  down  the  Ridge  Road 
or  coming  up  the  Creek,  could  drive  them  to  abandon 
the  homes  thoy  had  chosen  in  the  woods,  or  make 
them  turn  a  point  from  the  [performance  of  ^\hat  their 
duty  required. 

Perhaps  the  gloomiest  time  in  the  experience  of  the 
pioneers  was  during  and  after  the  war,  before  the  com- 
mencement of  work  on  the  Erie  canal.  Considerabh- 
wheat  w^as  annually  grown,  but  beyond  what  the 
farmer  wanted  for  his  own  consumption  it  was  of  lit- 
tle value,  bearing  a  nominal  piicn  of  aljout  twenty- 
five  cents  a  bushel. 

A  kind  of  crude  potash,  made  b\'  leaching  w  ood 
ashes,  and  known  as  "  black  salts,"  was  almost  the 
only  product  which  brought  money,  and  became,  in 
fact,  almost  a  lawful  tender  for  value  in  trade,  and 
this  had  to  be  taken  to  market  foi'  miles  ui)on  ox 
sleds  or  hand  sleds,  or  on  the  backs  of  th«^  makers, 
through  woods  and  swamps,  following  a  line  of  marked 
trees.  After  the  war,  came  the  memorable  cold  seasons 
of  1816-17.  About  these  years,  a  cotem];)orary  says, 
"  from  half  to  two-thirds  of  all  the  people  wert»  down 
ftick  in  the  summer  time.'' 

Without  a  supply  of  physicians  or  mirses,  or  med- 
icines, or  even  bread,  how  were  such  sick  men  to  se- 
•cure  their  crops  or  clear  their  land,  endure  storm, 
and  w^ant,  and  trouble  and  distress,  which  beset 
them  at  every  turn  X  Surely  nothing  but  an  iron  will 
which  no  impediment  could  break  or  bend,  an  abid- 
ing faith  and  hope  which  no  disasters  or  discouragt^ 
ments  could  overcome  or  crush  out,  sustained  them 
through  these  dark  days.  Like  heroes  of  another  time, 
*' through  i\w.  thick  gloom  of  the  present,  they  beheld 


438,  PIONEER  iriSTORy 

the  brightness  of  the  future,"  and  they  struggled 
on. 

It  has  been  playfully  said  that  you  may  place  a 
Yankee  in  the  woods  with  an  ax,  an  augur  and  a  knife, 
his  only  tools,  and  with  the  trees  his  only  material 
for  use,  and  he  will  build  a  palace,  if  need  be,  want- 
ing perhaps  in  the  iinish  which  other  tools,  and  the 
aid  of  iron  trimmings,  nails  and  glass  would  afford, 
but  possessing  the  substantial  requisites  of  conve- 
nience, and  fitness  and  strength. 

The  tirst  log  houses  bnilt  in  this  county,  proved  al- 
most literally  the  truth  of  this  remark.  They  were 
the  dwelling  places  of  the  best  families  in  the  land, 
made  by  their  owners,  where  the  latch  string  was  al- 
ways out  at  the  call  of  the  stranger,  and  the  best  of 
their  plain  and  scanty  store  was  always  generously 
shared  with  the  weary  and  destitute,  whoever  he 
might  be. 

The  builders  and  occupants  of  those  rude  tene- 
ments were  then  probably  poor,  as  can  well  be  im- 
agined, sick  and  sutfering,  with  none  of  the  luxuries, 
and  few  even  of  the  necessaries  of  their  fornun-  expe- 
rience, but  withal  contented  and  hapjDy. 

How  often  do  we  hear  these  persons,  now  occupy- 
ing their  noble  mansions,  fitted  and  furnished  and 
adorned  with  all  the  elegance  and  profusion  which 
the  abundant  means  of  their  owners,  and  the  taste  and 
fashion  of  the  times  command,  refer  to  the  little,  old 
log  cabin  first  built  upon  their  farm,  and  count  their 
residence  there  the  happiest  in  their  lives.  These 
buildings  belong  to  the  time  gone  by,  and  the  last  of 
the  log  iiouses  will  soon  have  gone  down  with  their 
builders  to  that  destruction  which  awaits  all  things 
earthly. 

For  some  years  none  new  have  been  erected  in  this 
county,  and  but  rarely  now  can  the  traveler  see  one 
left  standing  in  dilapidated  humility  belfind  the  great 


OF   ORLEANH   COUNTY.  439 

new  house,  maintaining  to  tlie  last  its  character  for 
usefulness,  as  a  shelter  for  the  grind  stone,  the  salt 
harrel,  the  swill  tub,  the  work  bench,  and  all  the 
hand  tools  there  carefully  treasured  up  for  use  on 
the  extensive  domain  of  their  wealthy  owner. 

Among  tlie.se  primitive  settlers,  the  advent  of  a  nevi 
family  to  locate  among  them,  was  an  occasion  of 
joy  through  the  town.  The  acquaintance  of  the  stran- 
gers was  promptly  nought,  a  coidial  welccmw  ex- 
tended, and  the  more  material  aid  of  all  the  force  in 
the  neighborhood,  kindly  volunteered  to  help  the  new 
comer  roll  the  logs  to  begin  his  clearing,  or  pile  them 
into  the  walls  of  his  cabin  home.  Such  friendly 
feeling  prevailed  in  all  their  social  aflairs.  Relations 
of  Jicquaintance  and  friendship  were  sustained  be- 
tween all  the  families  for  miles  around,  and  no  dis- 
tinctions of  wealth  or  party,  sect  or  condition  were 
known. 

It  is  true  no  sucli  visionary  scheme  of  community 
of  goods,  as  was  attempted  by  the  old  Plymouth 
Colony,  or  by  the  Fourierites  of  a  later  day,  with  all 
its  attendant  idleness  and  discontent  obtained  amon^ 
them,  but  a  most  generous  spirit  to  lend  to  and  help 
the  needy  was  a  prominent  trait  in  their  character. 
They  were  not  speculators  who  entered  upon  the 
lands  to  secure  a  title,  trusting  by  a  fortunate  sale, 
or  by  the  rise  in  the  market  price  to  derive  large  prof- 
its on  their  investment.  The  fevf  r  for  land  specula- 
tion had  not  tlien  set  in. 

The  policy  ot  the  Holland  Company  was  to  get 
their  lands  taken  up  and  occupied  as  fast  as  possible. 
With  this  in  view  they  gave  contracts  for  deeds  of 
conveyance  on  pajment  of  a  small  portion  of  the . 
purchase  money,  giving  the  purchaser  some  years  of 
credit  in  which  to  pay  the  r«^sidue.  This  jK)licy  bro't' 
in  settlers,  and  the  liberality  of  the   com2)any  in  ex-. 


440  pi()xi:i;h  histouv 

tending  contracts  \\ij('i>'  i^jompt  ))a\'ni«Mit  could  not 
he.  made,  kept  tliem  on  their  lots. 

A  portion,  however,  of  thn  iirst  iiiliabitants  of  this 
county,  like  a  j)ortion  of  the  iirst  inhabitants  in  every 
new  settlement,  became  cliarnisd  with  their  life  of 
vicissitude  and  hardship,  and  the  varied  advantages 
af  pioneer  settlement,  and  soon  as  tlie  farms  were 
mostly  taken  uj)  and  occupied,  and  the  progress  of 
cultivation  had  driven  away  the  game  and  introduced 
in  some  degree  the  order  of  civilized  society,  they  be- 
came uneasy  and  discontented,  and  longed  for  the 
freedom  and  excitments  of  wilder  life  on  the  border. 
Tiike  Coopers  hero.  "Leather  Stocking,"  they  would 
"•g;et  lost  among  the  clearings."  and  moved  to  the 
West  to  Tiegin  :igaii)  in  tlie  forests  of  Miclugan  or 
Ohio. 

To  those  wlio  remained  and  labored  tui  tiirough 
every  affliction  and  discouragement,  using  such  means 
as  their  own  sagacity  and  industry'  atlbrded  them  to 
assist  tli<:>ir  elforts,  we  aie  indebted  foi'  such  succ(^ss- 
ful  results  as  wt*  no\A'  set-. 

And  I  iivdy  rej^eat,  what  Init  an  inteJligeut 
and  confiding  hope  in  ''  the  good  time  coming"  could 
have  sustained  these  men  under  all  discouragements 
they  endured  i  Wliat  but  that  indomital^le  spirit  of 
the  race,  which  never  falters  at  j)erils  oi-  hindrances 
in  tlie  wa}'  when  a  desirable  object  is  to  be  gained, 
under  the  wise  ordering  of  a  mysteri(jus  good  Provi- 
dence, nerved  them  foi*  theij-  work,  and  clieered  them 
on  to  its  succesfid  acconij-iishment '. 

In  ardent  imagination  tlie  young  emigrant,  who 
had  selected  and  contracted  for  liis  farm,  looked  over 
his  fnture  abodeand  traced  the  l)oundaries of  orchard 
and  meadow,  and  pasture,  and  ])lain,  and  saw  the 
shadowy  cmtlines  of  his  houses  and  his  barns,  his 
fences  and  his  fields,  looming  into  being  where 
then   the   iirav  old  treen   stood  in   solemn   gi-andeur. 


<»K    OIILKAJVS  COUN^TY.  441 

the  sturdy  aentincls  of  uatuie  for  cfntiu'ies  knt-piiig 
watch  over  the  primitive  wilderness.  lie  ^aw  in 
vision  of  tliefutui'e  his  croi)s  of  waving  eorn  and  his 
granaries  bursting  out  with  x^lenty,  and  Inuiself  the 
happy  possessor  of  a  home  blessed  with  comforts  and 
luxui'ies  of  life  in  abundance,  and  seizing  his  ax, 
then  perhaps  his  only  chattel,  he  v,ent  to  work 
with  a  will,  to  piove  tlie  scenes  his  fanc}-^  had  por- 
trayed. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  Eiiglisii  settlements 
in  America  were  in  the  main  first  made  at  points  the 
most  inhospitable  and  uninviting,  thus  bringing  ewry 
part  of  our  country  to  be  settled  and  improved.  The 
Puritans,  who  came  over  in  the  May  Flower,  intended 
to  have  gone  to  Virginia,  but  through  the  treachery 
of  the  captain  of  their  ship,  as  some  assert,  tliey 
were  landed  at  Plymouth. 

The  first  emigrants  westward  from  IS'ew  England, 
located  in  the  forests  of  New  York,  Michigan  and 
Ohio,  because  they  came  from  a  forest  country'  and 
were  not  afraid  of  the  woods,  and  because  they  could 
not  get  to  the  fertile  "|.)rairies  of  the  West.  There 
were  no  roads  by  land,  and  no  communication  by  water 
to  these  beautiful  territories.  They  wei-e  compelled 
by  necessity  to  clear  up  and  setth-  the  country  as 
they  went  through  it. 

Had  the  Puritans  reached  their  intended  destina- 
tioii  in  the  sunn}-  South,  and  located  along  those 
noble  ri\'ers  and  fertile  plains,  tliej"  would  never  have 
removed  to  the  hard,  cold,  ironbound  hills  of  New 
England.  When  then  would  New  England  have 
been  settled  i  Never  by  emigrants  from  the  West. 
And  had  the  southern  and  middle  States  been  first 
settled,  and  the  application  of  steam  to  motive  ma- 
chinery been  made,  and  the  railroad  and  the  telegraph 
and  the  knowledge  of  the  useful  arts  we  now  possess 
been  known  200  years  ago,  Maine,  New   TTarapshir« 


4A2  PIONEEFi    l[ISTr>UY 

and  A'^ei'Diont,  would  "he  to-day  lik(^  parts  of  Lower 
Canada,  a  vast  and  dreaiy  wilderness,  and  as  such  to 
remain  until  tlie  more  inviting  regions  of  tlie  West 
bad  all  been  settled.  And  had  I'ailroads  and  tele- 
graphs, and  steam  power,  as  now  used,  hoen  kn(^wn 
even  fifty  years  ago,  I  fanc}'^  some  of  these  venerable 
pioneers  would  he  now  rejoicing  in  homes  made  happy 
up*)n  the  hanks  of  the  Missouri,  or  ])erhaps  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  interesting  details  of  horder  settlement  in  this 
(country  have  so  often  been  the  theme  of  I'emark  that 
tliey  have  become  trite  matters  of  history.  The 
solemn  and  deepening  shade  of  anticpiity  is  begin- 
ning to  clotlie  tlieni  with  its  m}stei'ious  interest,  and 
as  the  inimediat'^'  actors  lea^'c  u^<,  slowly  and  silently 
fading  away  from  among  the  living,  their  memory  is 
cherished  as  the  pride  of  their  kindred, and  they  come 
to  be  regarded  as  thb  l)enefactors  of  their  country* 
The  Pioneers  of  (Orleans  county  are  not  all  (h^ad, 
but  the  times  of  their  troul,>le  have  gone  by.  The  Hol- 
land Purcliase  is  settled,  subdued,  and  nuide  the 
(dieerful  home  of  an  industrious  and  thriving  popu- 
lation, now  in  their  turn  sending  out  their  caravans  of 
emigrants,  with  the  fervent  spirit  of  their  fathers, 
(tarrying  the  arts  and  institutions  of  our  favored 
country  to  those  new  States  so  rapidly  growing  up  in 
the  regions  of  the  AVest.  All  the  improvements  in 
s(uence  and  the  arts  are  brought  to  aid  the  swift  pro- 
gress of  our  people  in  spreading  themselves  over  our 
entire  national  territory. 

If  the  earliei'  march  of  emigration  and  settlement, 
frr)m  the  Atlantic  westward  has  been  toilsome  and 
slow,  and  two  hundred  j-ears  scarc(^  brought  settlers 
to  the  great  lakes  and  the  slopes  of  the  AUeghanies, 
what  shall  we  say  of  the  advances  of  the  last  fifty 
years,  and  which  are  now  going  foi-ward  ! 

Since  the  first  tree  fell  here  under  the  ax  of  the  white 


OF  ORLEANS   COUKTY.  443 

man,  the  triumphs  of  steam  power  have  appeared. — 
By  the  help  of  this  tremendous  agent,  a  voyage  across 
the  Atlantic,  which  took  the  May  Flower  months  to  ac- 
complish, is  now  made  in  a  week.  A  trip  to  Boston, 
which  once  cost  these  j^ioneers  a  month  to  perform,  is 
now  the  business  of  a  day.  Steam  drives  our  mills, 
carries  our  burdens,  plows  our  fields,  warms  our 
houses,  digs  our  canals,  and  furnishes  a  motive  pow- 
er, to  effect  the  mightiest  and  minutest  work  attompt- 
ed  by  the  ingenuity  of  man. 

But  steam,  though  admitted  to  be  strong  is  voted 
slow,  in  this  fast  age,  and  electricity  is  sent  out  to  run 
the  errands  of  our  ordinary  business. 

Excelsior  I  Higher  !  is  the  motto  of  our  noble  Em- 
pire State,  and  Forward  is  the  cry  of  encouragement 
with  which  Young  America  stimulates  its  ardor  in  the 
race  for  victory. 

My  friends,  we  who  are  the.  juniors  of  these  noble 
men,  whose  praise  we  have  thus  faintly  endeavored 
to  celebrate,  should  never  forget  that  we  are  building 
upon  foundations  they  have  laid  for  us.  That  \^e  in- 
herit the  lands  their  hands  have  cleared  ;  that  we  en- 
joy the  liberties  they  have  achieved. 

We  shall  ever  admire  their  enterprise,  patience  and 
fortitude.  We  shall  justly  feel  proud  to  claim  ac- 
quaintance, perhaps  i-elationship  with  such  worthy 
predecessors. 

AVe  shall  teach  our  children  the  stor}^  of  their  la- 
bors and  success,  as  examples  to  be  imitated ;  and 
from  every  memorial  they  have  left  us  of  strenuous 
effort  in  a  good  cause,  take  courage  and  gain  strength 
to  help  our  resolution  in  the  x)erformance  of  all  the 
duties,  which  have  fallen  to  our  lot.  And  when  we 
look  about  us  upon  the  broad  patrimony  we  have  de- 
rived from  then),  and  take  an  inventory  of  the  abun- 
dant good  things  they  hav<'  bequeathed  to  us,  as  the 
fruits  of  their  labors,  let  us  not  forget  our  duty  of 


444  PIO.N'KKK    HISTORY 

gratitude  to  tlie  nicJiioiy  of  these  our  Ix'iiefaptors,  to 
whom  we  owe  so  much,  nor  fail  to  improve  as  we 
oiiglit,  the  i-ich  inlieritaiice  we  enjoy. 

Venerable  Pioneers — You  liave  not  met  on  the 
present  oi-easion  to  gratify  your  vanity  l>y  publishing 
to  the  world  the  exploits  you  have  performed,  or 
boasting  for  the  wond«^r  of  others  of  the  marvelous 
adventures  you  may  have  achieved  ;  but,  like  a  com- 
pany of  weary  travelers,  life's  toilsome  journey  al- 
most done, — you  are  here  to  spend  an  evening  hour 
in  social  eonveise,  on  scenes  you  have  witnessed  by 
the  way,  to  bi'ing  to  mind  again  the  stirring  events  in 
which  you  have  been  called  to  mingle  ;  and  to  soothe 
your  spirits  by  a  grateful  recollection  of  that  kind 
Providence  which  has  sustained  j^ou  in  all  your  toils 
and  brought  you  in  old  age  to  the  abundant  enjoy- 
ment and  realization  of  the  most  ardent  hopes  of  your 
youth. 

You  have  seen  the  c(Kintry  of  ^'our  choice  a  gloomy 
wilderness.  You  now  behold  it,  b\^  your  exertions 
changed  to  <'ultivated  iields,  and  dottfxi  over  with 
noble  houses,  inters]>ersed  with  thriving  villages  and 
connected  by  public  highways. 

Where  a  few  years  ago  you  hunted  the  savage 
bear,  your  splendid  herds  and  numerous  tiocks  now 
roam  and  feed  in  sjifety.  Wliere  but  lately  you  was 
com])elled  to  grope  your  wa}'  from  town  to  town 
through  pathless  woods,  by  marked  trees,  or  Indian 
trjiils,  the  railrt^ad  or  telegraph  atford  you  means  of 
communication,  in  which  time  and  distance  are 
scarcely  items  in  the  account  of  delay. 

The  rich  pioduce  of  your  fields,  instead  of  rot- 
ting on  \-our  hands,  valueless  because  no  buyer 
could  be  found,  commands  at  all  times  tht^  highest 
price  in  the  markets  of  tli«!  world. 

The  iiowl  of  the  wolf  is  exchanged  hw  the  scream 
of  the  steam  whistle,  and  thou^'h    vou  liv(^  so  far   in 


OF    OKLEAN^^    COUNTY.  445 

land,  t}i«^  gallant  wtpam  vessel  if^  made  to  lioat  "by 
your  very  doors. 

How  astonishing,  how  stupendons  the  change! 
We  have  read  of  the  AN^onderfiil  Lamp  of  Aladdin, 
and  stories  of  Oriental  Necromancy,  where  by  the 
superlniraan  power  of  magic,  and  tht^  agency  of 
demons,  the  loftiest  woiks  of  art.  and  the  noblest 
productions  of  industry  and  skill  w^ere  made  to 
appear  or  vanish  at  a  word, — but  the  magic  which 
wrought  the  works  we  ct'lebrate,  was  the  power  of  in- 
domitable energy,  applied  with  strong  hands  and 
stubborn  perseverence.  The  mighty  improvements 
which  excite  our  admiration  are  only  the  happy  re- 
sults of  your  steady,  well  directed  industry  overcom- 
ing its  early  discouragements  and  trials, — the  honor- 
able testimonials  of  the  stfinest  coivtlict  aTid  most 
complete  success. 

Fortunate  men  and  w(»iMen  I  i^ong,  long  may  you 
live,  enjoj'ing  the  rich  fruits  of  3^our  early  toils. 
And  may  you  be  permitted  to  witness  the  return  of 
many  anniversaries  of  your  present  association,  hap- 
py in  the  consciousness  that  you  have  accomxjlished 
the  objects  of  your  youthful  ambition,  and  leaving, 
when  at  last  you  shall  be  called  to  your  rest,  a  noble 
history,  and  a  worthy  example  embalmed  in  the 
memory  of  your  grateful  posteiity. 


AF»PENDIX. 

Towns  iu  Orleans  County — Their  Organization — Villages  in  Orleans 
County — Table  of  Elevations — Members  of  Assembly  Elected  from 
Orleans  County  since  its  Organization — County  Clerks  of  Orleans 
County — County  Treasurers — County  Superintendents  of  Common 
Schools — First  Judges  of  Orleans  County  Courts — District  Attorneys 
of  Orleans  County — Sherllfs  of  Orleans  County — Surrogates  ot  Or- 
leans County — First  Courts  of  Record — Supervisors  of  the  Ditferent 
Towns  in  Orleans  County  since  their  Organization. 


TOWNS   IX    ORLEANS   COUNTY. 

-  TOWNS. 

WHEN  FOKMEl). 

FROM  WHAT  TAKKN. 

Batavia, 

March  30  th 

,  1602. 

Batavia  is  now  divided  into  other 
towns,  and  not    known    by  that 
name  in  Orleans  county. 

Barre, 

March   6  th, 

1818, 

from  Gaines. 

Carlton* 

April   13th, 

1822, 

from  Gaines  and  Ridgeway. 

Clarendon, 

Feb'y  23rd, 

1821, 

from  Sweden. 

Gaines, 

Feb'y  14th, 

1816, 

from  Ridgeway. 

Sendall, 

April    7th, 

1837, 

from  Murray. 

Murray, 

April    8th, 

1803, 

from  Northampton. 

Kidgeway, 

June     8th, 

1812, 

from  Batavia. 

Shelby,  " 

March   (5lh, 

1818, 

from  Itidgeway. 

Yates.f 

April  ITth, 

1822, 

from  Ridgeway. 

*  The  town  of  Carlton  was  originally  named  "  Oak  Orchard,"  and  was 
changed  to  "  Carlton  '*  in  1823. 

t  The  town  of  Yates  was  originally  named  "  Northton,"  and  was  changed 
to  Yates,  January  21st,  1823. 

VILLAGES   IN'   ORLEANS  COUNTY. 


NAMES. 

Albion.* 
Gaines.f 
Holley. 
Medina. 


WHEN  INCORPORATED. 

April    21st.  1828.  Incorporated  by  special  act. 
April  26th,  1832. 

July     1st,    1850.  "  "  general  " 

March    2d,   1832.  "  "    special  " 


*  Albion  was  originalU'  named  "  Newport,"  and  the  name  changed  to  AI- 
l)ion  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a  village. 
+  The  village  of  Gaines  has  ceased  to  use  its  corporate  franchises. 


OF   OKLEAXS    COUNTY.  447 

Thk  following   list    ok  Elevations   is  taken   fkom  O'Reilt's 
«  History  ok  RociiESTKn  and  Western  New  Yoijk: 

FEET. 

Lake  Erie  above  level  of  tide  water  is 570 

Top  of  Niagara  Falls  is  below  Lake  Erie 66 

Bottom  of  Niagara  Falls  below  Lake  Erie 236 

Lake  Ontario  below  Lake  Erie, 380 

Canal  at  Albion  below  Lake  Erie 64 

Erie  Canal  at  Albion  above  Lake  Ontario  is 266 

Middle  Falls,  Genesee  River  at  Rochester,  perpendicular  pitch, 96 

Canal  in  Orleans  county,  level  above  tide  water 509 

MILES. 

Distance  from  Albion  by  canal  to  Albany 293 

From  Albion  to  ButTalo, 59 

From  Albion  to  Rochester 34. 

The  descent  given  to  cause  a  flow  of  water  between  locks  in  the  Erie 
Canal  does  not  vary  much  from  oae  inch  in  a  mile. 

MILKS. 

Distance  from  Albion  by  railroad  to  Suspension  Bridge 44i 

From  Albion  to  liochestc* .30| 


Members    ok  Assembly   p;i,kctei>    from  Orleans  County  since 
ITS  Organization  : 

Lathrop  A.  G.  B.  Grant,  from  Shelby 1S36 

Abraham  Cantine,  from  Murraj' 1837 

Lyman  Bates,  from  Ridgeway 1838 

George  W.  Flemming.  from  Barre 1839 

John  H.  Tyler,  from  Vat .  s, 18S0 

John  H.  Tyler,  from  Yates 1831 

William  J.  Babbitt,  from  Gaines 1833 

Asahel  Byingt(m,  from  Carlton 1833 

Asa  Clark,  Jr.,  from  ]\hirray 1834 

Asa  Clark.  Jr.,  from  Murray 1835 

John  Chamberlain,  from  Barre 1836 

Silas  M.  Burroughs,  from  Ridgeway 1837 

Horatio  Reed,  from  Clarendon 1838 

Horatio  l{eed,  from  Clarendon 1839 

John  .].  Walbridge,  from  Gaines 1840 

Richard  W.  Gates,  from  Yates 1841 

Sanford  E.  Church,  from  Barre.. ' .1843 

Elisha  Wright,  from  Barre .1843 

Sands  Cole,  from  liidgeway 1844 

Gardner  Goold,  from  Carlton . .  _ 1845 

Dexter  Kingman,  from  Ridgeway, 1846 

Abner  Hubbard,  from  jMurraj' 1847 

Arba  (^hubb,  from  Gaines 1848 


448  PIONEER   IlISTOKY 

Kciib?ii  Roblee,  from  Kendall • 1849 

Silas  ]\r.  Burroughs,  from  Ridgeway 1850 

Silas  M.  Burroughs,  from  Kidgevvay 1951 

George  ]\I.  Copelaiul,  tVom  Clarendon 1853 

Silas  M.  Burroughs,  from  Ridgeway 1853 

Jereniiali  Freeman,  Irom  Shelby 1854 

Elisha  S.  Whalen,  from  Ridgeway. 1855 

Dan.  H.  Cole,  from  Barre 1856 

Almanzor  Hutchinson,  from  Gaines 1857 

Almanzor  Hutchinson,  from  Gaines 1858 

Almanzor  Hutchinson,  from  Gaines .1859 

Abel  Stilson,  from  Barre 1860 

Gideon  Randall,  from  Kendall 1861 

Nicholas  E.  Darrow,  from  Clarendon 1862 

John  Parks,  from  Ridgewa}"- 1868 

Edmund  L.  Pitts,  from  Ridgeway 1864 

Edmund  L.  Pitts,  from  Ridgeway 1865 

Edmund  L.  Pitts,  from  Ridgeway 1866 

Edmund  L.  Pitts,  from  Ridgeway. 1867 

Edmund  L.  Pitts,  from  Ridgeway 1868 

Marvin  Harris,  from  Kendall . 1869 

John  Berry,  from  Murra3' 1870 

John  Berry,  from  Murray 1871 

Note. — Alexis  Ward  was  elected  in  November,  1854,  and  died  be- 
fore the  session  began,  and  E.  S.  Whalen  was  elected  in  his  place. 


County  Cleuks  of  Ora.EAKs  County  f:.o  i  its  0:;ganization  : 

NAMES.  WnEN  KLECTED  OR  APPOINTED. 

Orson  Niclioson, November,  1825 

Abraham  B.  Mills ...November,  1831 

Timothy  C.  Strong November,  1834 

Elijah  i)ana -November,  1843 

Harmon  Goodrich* March,         1848 

Dan.  H.  Cole November,  1848 

Willard  F.  Warren .  .November,  1854 

John  P.  Church November,  1857 

G Jorge  A.  Porterf Dcc'r  30th,  1858 

James  M.  Palmer .November,  1859 

Edwin  F.  Brown November,  1862 

George  A.  Porter November,  1865 

George  D.  Church November,  1868 


*  Appointed  ia  place  of  E.  liana,  deceased,  under  Act  passed  March  20th, 
1848. 
+  Appointed  in  place  of  J.  P.  Church,  dcxieased. 


OK    OULKAXi?    (  Ol'NTV 


440 


County    TKKA«riip:i{s    oi-  Orf.kans  Colntv    khom    us  ()it(;AMZ-v- 

Tiox: 

Ist.  Appointed   l)y   th*;   J-5oai'd  of  Supei'visors  f(i   bold    during-   th«? 
pleasure  of  the  Board — 

William  Ferr}- 183.")  Loren/.o   Jiurrows 1840 

.lames  Mat  her 1826  Codington  AV.  Swan 1841 

Uideon  Hard 1827  Joseph  31.  Cornell 1843 

Truxtou   Burrell 1835  Lemuel  C.  Paine 1845 

JIugh  McCurdy 1837  John  II.  Denio 1847 

2d.  Elecled    under   tlu'   Constitution   ot  ]S4(i,  for  ;\  term  of   three, 
years — 

John  II.  Denio November,  1848 

Ambrose  Wood 1         "  1851 

Joseph  M.Cornell •  1857 

Ezra  T.  Coauu ■  18G3 

Samuel    C.  Bowen "  186<» 

Albert  S.  Warner "  1869 


CouKTY    Si  rKi:iN'rKNr>T:NTs    op   Common    Schoot.s    roK    Op.i.ean". 

COUXTY : 

Edwin  I{.  Reynolds,  Jonathan  O.  Wilsea,  John  G.  Smith,  Olive? 
Morehouse,  Marcus  II.  Pliillips,  Ahel  Stilson,  and  James  H.  Mattl- 
son. 


FlKST   JfDOKS    i)V   OiU.KANS   ColXTY   Coi  KTS    SJXCK   THK    OlJOAXIZ; 


TiON  OF  rnv:  Couxty  : 

XAMKS.  WUK.V   AIM'MINIKI 


Elijah  Fo<ji, 
Alexis  AVard,      > 
Henry  Angevine 
Benj.  L.  Bessac, 
James  Gilsoii, 


.Vpril  22(1, 1825. 
Feb.  10th,  1830. 
Jan.  27th,  1840. 
Feb'y  7t.h,  1844. 
Jan.  10th,  184(1. 


K1.K(TE1»  UNIJEK  CONSTITrTIO'J 
OF  1846,  COUNTY"  JITDGE 
AND  SURKOG-4.TE. 

Henry  II.  Curtis,  June,  1847 
Dan  II.  Cole,  app.  in  place  oV 
H.K.Curtis,deceased,Sept.24,'55 
Gideon  Hard,  Xovercber,  1855 
Arad  Thomas,  November,  185!) 
Edwm  It.  Reynolds,  Noa-.,  186.i 
John  (t.  Sawyer,  Nov'r,  18G7 


District  Arroax -Y^    (»i-  Oiu.oxs  Cot  xty    i l-om    its   First  Ok 

CANIZATION  : 

NAMES.  WIIK.V    APPOINTED. 


Orange  Butler,  1825. 

George  AV.  Fleniiiiir  1828. 

Henry  R.  Curtis,  1831. 

George  AV^.  Fleming.  1832. 

Henry  R.  ('urt is.  1833. 


29 


WHEN  K/.ECTEU  U>fDEK  CONSTl- 
OF  ISl^J. 

Sanlord    K.  Church,  Jime  1847 

Wm.  K.  ^IcAllJstcr,  Nov.  1850 

Benjamin  1,.  Bessac,  Nov.  ISS." 

Henry    I).    Tucker,    Nov.  1856 

John    AV.    Graves,    Nov.  185!) 

John    (J.     Sawyer,    Nov.  1862 
Irving  Af.  Thompson,  Nov.  1865 

Henry    A.     Childs,    Nov.  1868 


400  proxKEU  TirsTOitY 

Sheriffs  ok  Ohi.kans  C'olntv  since  its  Okganizatxon. 

NAMES.  >\-I[EN  APPOIXTED  OR  ELECTED. 

William  Lewis On  organizing  County. 

Oliver  Benton November,  1826 

V/m.  AUis "  1829 

Harmon  Goodrich "  1833 

Asahol  Woodrutt "  1835 

John  Eoardmau "  1838 

iJorate  B.  Perry "  1841 

AramBecbe "  1844 

AustinDay "  1847 

Ilufiis  E.  Hill ••  1850 

Ferdinand  A.  Day "  1853 

George  W.  Bedell "  1856 

Oanly  D.  Sprague ••  1859 

Kobert  P.  Bordwell -  1862 

Erastus  M.  Spaiilding "  1865 

Robert  P.  Bordwell "  1868 

SLRHOC4ATES  OF  OkLEANS  CoUXTY  SINCE  ITS  OlttiANIZATIOX. 

XA.MES.  WHEN  APPOINTED  OR  ELECTED. 

William  White April       19,1825 

Alexis  W^ard-.-'- April         3,1829 

John  Chamberlain March       8, 1833 

Thomas  S.  Clarlv January  21, 1836 

))anH.  Cole January  21,1840 

Thomas  S.  Clark. January  21, 1844 

Since  1847  the  duties  of  Surrogate  have  been  performed  by  the 
Countv  Judge.  ■ 


Sui'KKvisoKs  OF  Towns,  as  Elkcted  from  the  Organization  of 
Okt.eans  County. 

SUPERVISORS  OF  BARRE. 

I.alhan  Whitney 1826  Lansing  Bailey 1839 

Lansing  Bailey 1827  Alvah  Mattison -  -  .1840 

Lansing  Bailey 1828  Alvali  Mattison 1841 

Lansing  Bailey  1829  Avery  M.  Starkweather 1842 

Lansing  Bailey  .       _ .  1830  Avery  M.  Starkweather 1843 

Lansing  Bailey 1831  Elisha  Wright. 1844 

jjansing  Bailey _18:!2  Lorenzo  Burrows 1845 

A.  Hyde  Cole 1833  ^Varren  Parker. 1846 

Alvaii  Mattison 1834  William  Love 1847 

Alvah  LMattison 1835  William  Love 1848 

liansing  Bailey .1836  Anthony  Brown 1849 

7  ,an-ing  Bailey 1837  Anthony  Brown. .1850 

F  .nusins'  T.ailov  1  H:]><  A uthonv  Brown. 1851 


OF    ORLEANS    COUJS'TY.  451 

Austin  Day 1852  Luther  Porter 1802 

Henry  M.  Gibson ISoS  John  D.  Bucldand 1803 

Henry  M.  Gibson 1854  John  D.  BucklancL  ..\ 1804 

Henry  M.  Gibson 1855  Norman  S.  Field 1805 

JohnD.  Buckland 1850  Orpheus  A.  Root 1800 

John  D.  Buckland 1857  Ori)heus  A.Root 1807 

Luther  Porter 1858  Orpheus  A.Root 1808 

Luther  Porter 1859  Charles  11.  Mattison 1809 

Luther  Porter 1800  Charles  H.  3Lattison 1870 

Luther  Porter 1801  Charles  H.  Mattison 1871 

SUPERVISORS  OF  CARLTON. 

Richard  AV.  Gates, .1820  Jasper  j\I.  Grow 184{> 

Minoris  Day 1 827  Willard  F.  Warren 1850 

Minoris  Day 1828  Gardner  Goold 1851 

John  M.  Randall 1829  John  Dunham 1852 

John  M.Randal] 1830  Xelson   Shattuck 1853 

Minoris  Day 1831  Reuben  X.  Warren 1854 

Isaac  ]\Iason 1832  ]\Iarvin  C.  Lacey 1855 

Isaac  Mason 1833  G:ardner  Goold 1850 

Chester  Bidwcll .1834  Joseph  D.  Billinss 1857 

Joshua  E.  Hall 1835  Joseph  D.  Billings 1858 

Horace  O.  Goold 1830  Joseph  D.  Billings 1859 

Hiram  Merrick 1837  Daniel  Howe 1800 

Hiram  Merrick 1838  Daniel  Howe 180 1 

Alfred  Bidwell 1839  Joseph  D.  Billings 1802 

Gardner  Goold 1840  John  H.  Harris 1803 

Gardner  Goold 1841  John  H.  Harris 1804 

Al'tred  Bidwell 1842  George   L.  Baker 1805 

Gardner  Goold 1843  George  L.  Baker 1800 

Asahel  Byington,  2d 1844  Dennis  Bickford 1807 

Epenetus  A.  Reed 1845  Dennis  Bickford 1808 

Asahel  Byington,  2d 1840  Benjamin  F.  Van  Camp 1809 

Alfred  Bidwell 1847  Benjamin  F.  Van  Camp 1870 

Dalphon  V.Simpson 1848  John  Gates 1871 

SUPERVISORS  OF  CLxVREXDOX. 

Eldridge  Farwell 1821  Elizur  Warren 1832 

Eldridge  Farwell 1822  Elizur  Warren 1833 

Jeremiah  Glidden 1823  Zardius  Touslcy 1834 

Jeremiah  Glidden 1824  Horatio  Reed... .....1835 

Henry  Hill 1825  Horatio  Reed 1830 

Hiram  Frisbie 1820  Horatio  Reed„. 1837 

Chauncey   Robir.son 1827  Horatio  Reed ...1838 

Chauncey  Robinson ...1828  Bcnjiunin  G.  Pettingill 1839 

Cliauncey  Eobinson 182!>  John    ■\Iillard 1840 

Chauncey  Robinson 1830  Jason  A.  Sheldon 1841 

John  Millard 1831  Jason  A.  Sheldon 1S42 


452  PJONKEi;    HISTORY 

Jason  A.  Sheldon 184.3  Thomsis  Turner. 1858 

Benjamin  G.  PettengilL . 1844  George  :M.  Copeland 1859 

Benjamin  G.  PettengilL . 1845  Dau  Martin 186a 

Ira  B.  Keeler 184(i  Mortmier  D.  Milliken 1861 

Ira  B.  Keeler 1847  Mortimer  D.  Millken 1862 

Orson  Tousley -1848  ]Martin  Evarts '. 1863 

(Tcorge  M.  Copeland 1849  Nicholas  E.  Darrow -  .1864 

George  M.  Copeland 1850  Nicholas  E.  Darrow 1865 

Nicholas  E.  Darrow 1851  Henry  C.  Martm 1866 

Nicholas  E.  Darrow 185:>  Henry  C.Martin 1867 

Daniel  F.  St.  John 185;:}  Henry  C.  Martin 1868 

Nicholas  E.  Darrow 1854  David  N.  Pettengill .186!) 

Dan  Martin 1855  David  N.  Pettengill 1870 

Lucius  B.  Coy 185(5  J)arwin   M.  Inman. 1871 

Amasa  I'atterson 1857 

SUPERVISORS  OF  GAINES. 

Sarnuel  Clark 1816  Daniel  Brown 1844 

Samuel  Clark 1817  Samuel  Bidelman 1845 

Robert  Anderson 181 8  Samuel  Bidelman 1846 

Robert  Anderson 1819  Arba  Chubb 1847 

Robert  Anderson 1820  Henry  Miller 1848 

Robert  Anderson 1821  Benj.  Chester 1849 

Robert  Anderson . 1822  Aram  Beebe 1850 

Robert  Anderson 182o  Aram  Beebe 1851 

Robert  Anderson 1824  Aram  Beebe. 1853 

Robert  Anderson .........  1825  Samuel  Bidelman 1853 

Robert  Anderson 1826  Samuel  Bidelman .  .1854 

Daniel  Pratt 1837  Gershom  R.  Cady .1855 

Arba  Chubb 1828  Jonas  Sawens 1856 

Arba  Chubb ...1829  Samuel  Bidelman .1857 

Arba  Chubb .18^0  Nahum  Anderson 1858 

Will.  J.  Babbitt 1831  Nahum  Anderson... 1859 

John  J.  Walbridge 1832  Nahum  Anderson 1860 

Russel  Gillett 1833  Almanzor  Hutchinson 1861 

Will.  J.  Babbitt. 1834  Nahum  Anderson 1863 

Arba  Chubb 1835  Charles  T.  Richards 1863 

William  W.  Ruggles .1836  Charles  T.  Richards 1864 

Joseph  Billings 1837  Nahum  Anderson 1865 

Joseph  Billings 1838  Matthew  T.  Anderson 1866 

Joseph  Billings 1839  Matthew  T.  Anderson. 1867 

Joseph  Billings. 1840  Samuel  AY.  Smith 1868 

Palmer  Cady .1841  Samuel  AV.  Smith 1869 

r^amucl  Bidelman 1842  Elijah  B.  Lattin 1870 

Wm.  W.  Ruggles 1843  Elijah  B.  Lattin. 1871 

SUPERVISORS  OF   KENDALL. 
Ryan  Barber 1840  Ryan  Barber 1841= 


OF   ORLEANS    COUNTY.  45:3 

Henry  Higgins 1842  Philo  F.  Prosser 1857 

Joseph  Mann 184o  Philo  F.  Prosser 1858 

Joseph  Mann 1844  Philo  F.  Prosser 1859 

Levi  Hard 1845  Maryin   Harris.  _ 1860 

Levi  Hard 1846  Marvin  Harris 1861 

Abram  Odell 1847  Pierre  A.  Simkins 1862 

Abram  Odell 184S  William  K.  Townsend 1863 

Wm.  R.  Bassett 1849  Xathaniel  S.  Beimett 1864 

Wni.  K.  Bassett 1850  Nathaniel  S.  Bennett 1865 

Alanson  Whitney. .- 1851  Gideon  Randall 1866 

Reuben  Roblee 1852  Gideon  Randall. .1867 

William  R.  Bassett 1853  Oscar  Munn 1868 

William  R.  Bassett 1854  Oscar  Munn 1869 

Pierre   A.   Simkins 1855  Oscai    Munn 1870 

Philo  F.  Prosser 1856  Wm.  O.  Hardenbrook 1871 

SUPERVISORS  OF  MURRAY. 

Asahel  Balcom 1826  Harrison  Hatch 1849 

William  Allis 1827  Benj.  F.  Van  Dake 1850 

Amos  Randall 1828  Jabez  Allison 1851 

Hiram  Frisbie 1839  Jabez  Allison 1852 

Hiram  Frisbie 1830  Ezra  X.  Hill. . 1853 

William  James 1831  Danly   D.  Sprague 1854 

Asa  Clark,  Jr 1832  Danly   U.  Sprague 1855 

Asa  Clark,  Jr - 1833  Benj.'  F.  Van  Dake 1856 

Asa  Clark,  Jr 1834  Jabez  Allison 1857 

Robert  Nichoson.. 1835  Jabez  Allison 1858 

Robert  Nichoson 1836  Jabez  Allison 1859 

George  Squires 1837  Ezra  N.  Hill 1860 

George  Squires 1838  Jabez  Allison 1861 

Joshua    Garrison 1839  Linus  Jones  Peck 1862 

Joshua    Garrison 1840  Roland  Farnsworth 1863 

Cornelius  Thomas 1841  Roland   Farnsworth 1864 

Cornelius  Thomas 1842  Roland  Farnsworth 1865 

John  Berry 1843  lioland   Farnsworth 1866 

George    Squires 1844  Roland  Farnsworth 1867 

Abijah  Reed 1845  Roland  Farnsworth 1868 

Hercules  Reed 1846  Roland  Farnsworth 1869 

Abner  Balcom 1847  Roland  Farnsworth 1870 

Abner  Balcom 1848  Roland  Farnsworth 1871 

SUPERVISORS  OF  RIDGE  WAY  FRO.M   ORGANIZATION  OF 
THE  TOWN. 

Oliver  Booth 1813  Elijah  Hawley 1818 

Samuel  Clark 1814  Jeremiah  Brown 1819 

Samuel  Clark - 1815  Israel  Douglass 1820 

Israel  Douglass 1816  Israel   Douglass... ...1821 

Israel  Douglass 1817  Jeremiali  Brown 1822 


4r)4  IMOXEEIJ   HISTORY 

.Tei-pmiiili  Brown 1823  William    C.  Tanner 1848-' 

.lereniiah  Brown 1824  John  F.  Sawyer 1849 

Lyman  Btites 1825  John  F.  Sawyer 1850 

Lyman  Bates 1826  Christopher  Whaley 1851 

Lyman  Bates 1827  Allen  Bacon 1852 

Lyman   Bates 1828  Marson  Weld .. 1353 

Lyman   Bates 1820  Borden  H.  Mills 1854 

Lyman  Bates 1880  John  R.  Weld 1855 

Lyman  Bates 1831  Lyman  Bates 1856 

William  C.  Tanner 1832  Alexander  H.  Jame>on 1857 

William  C.  Tanner 1833  Lnther  Barrett 1858 

William  C.  Tanner 1834  Luther  Barrett 1859 

Seymour  B.  Murdock 1835  Dyer  B.  Abell I860' 

Lyman  Bates 1830  Dyer  B.  Abell 1861 

William  V.'Wilson 1837  Hezekiah  Bowen,  Jr  1862- 

Nathan  S.  Wood 1838  Henry  A.  Glidden 1863 

Xathan  S.  Wood 1839  Henry  A.  Glidden 1864 

Josias    Tanner 1840  Samuel   C.  Bowen 1865 

Josias    Tanner 1841  William  W.Potter 1866' 

Job  Fish 1842  William  W.Potter 1867 

William  Y.  Wilson 1843  Allea  P.  Scott 1868 

Dexter  Kingman 1844  Allen  P.  Scott 1869 

Dexter  Ivius;mau 1845  Henry  A.  Glidden 1870' 

Roswcll  Starr 1846  Elisha  S.Whalen 1871 

Allen  Bacon 1847 

SUPERVISORS  OF  SHELBY. 

Lathrop  A.  G.  B.  Grant 1826  Lathrop  A.  G.  B.  Grant 1846 

Christopher  Whaley 1827  Alexander  Coon 1847 

Christopher  Whaley .1828  Alexander  Coon 1848 

Andrew  EUicott 1829  Lathrop  A.  G.  B.  Grant 1849 

Joseph  Rickey 1830  Lathrop  A.  G.  B.  Grant 1850 

Joseph  Rlck3y 1831  Jeremiah  Freeman 1851 

William  Cunningham 1832  Elisha  Whalen 1853 

William  Cunningham 1833  John  M.  Culver 1853 

Adam  Garter 1834  John  :\[.  Culver  1854 

Horatio  N.  Hewes 1835  Alexander  Coon 1855 

Adam  Garter 1836  Philip  Winegar 185(V 

John  M.  Culver 1837  Philip  Winegar 1857 

Alexander  Coen 183s  Philip  Winegar 1858 

Alexander  Coon 1839  Philip  Winegar 1859 

Alexander  Coon 1840  Alexander  Coon 1860 

Alexander  Coon 1841  John  T.  Gillett 1861 

Alexander  Coon 1842  John  T.  Gillett 1862 

Alexander  Coon 1H43  John  T.  Gillett 1863 

Alexander  Coon 1844  John  T.  Gillett 1864 

Lathrop  A.  G.  B.  Grant 184.-.  John  T.  Gillett 1865- 


OF    OKLEAXS    COrNTV.  455 

Joseph  W.  Ross 18GG  John  P.  Gates 18G0 

Joseph  W.  Ross 1867  David  G.  Deuel 1870 

Diivid  (;.  Deuel 1868  Ela  C.  Bardwel  1 1 8:i 

SUPERVISORS  OF  YATES. 

Samuel  Warner 18'2(!  Iteuben  Iluugerlbru 18-;) 

Grindal  Davis 1827  Asahel  Johnson 1850 

John  n.  Tyler 1 828  Asahel  Johnson 1851. 

John  H.  Tyler 1829  John  J.  Saw  yer 18r;.i 

John  H.  Tyler 1830  John  Gates." 18^3 

John  H.  Tyler 1831  Charles  Lum 1854 

Luther  St.  John 1832  Charles  Lum 1855 

John  H  Tyler 1833  David  :.  Iteuion 1850 

John  H.  Tyler 1834  David   :.  Ilenion 1857 

John  H.  Tyler 1835  DanierClark  ^ 1858 

John  II.  Tyler 1830  Chauueey  II.  Lum '. 1850 

John  IL  Tyler 1837  Chauncey  II.  Luu\ 1800 

John  L.  Lewis 1838  Daniel  Clark 18C1 

Asahel  Johnson 1839  Tunis  H.  Coe 1802 

John  L.  Lewis 1840  Tunis  H.  Coe 18C.-5 

John  L.  Lewis 1841  Tunis  H.  Coe 1804 

Samuel  Taylor 1842  George  Clark ISCo 

John  L.  Lewis 1S43  Jonathan  A.  Johnson 1860 

Daniel  Starr 1^44  Jonathan  A.  Johnson 1867 

John  L.  Lewis 1845  Jonathan  A.  Johnson 18CS 

Daniel  Starr 1840  Henry  Spalding 1809 

Horace  Phippany 1847  Henry  Spalding 1870 

Horace  Phippany 1848  (".  Jackson  Blood 1871 


COUIITS  OF  RECORD. 


The  Couils  Jbr  Orleans  County  before  tlie  County  Scat  ^vas  located 
at  Albion,  were  held  at  Bronyon's  Hotel,  in  the  town  of  Claines.  The 
record  of  the  opening  of  the  first  Circuit  Court  is  as  follows : 

"  At  a  Circuit  Court  held  at  the  House  of  Selah  Bronson,  in  the 
town  of  (4aines,  in  and  lor  the  Count}-  of  Orleans,  on  Thursday,  the 
13th  day  of  October,  1825,  present.  His  Honor  William  B.  Ivochester, 
Judije  8th  Circuit.  DAVID  STKICKI.AM), 

WILLIAM  C4ATES, 
ABEL  TRACY, 
MONTGOMERY  I'HltClVAL, 
E.   RERRIGO, 
Z AUDIT'S  TOUSLE Y, 

Constables. 
The  followmu-  i)er>on«  appeared  and  were  sworn   as  traverse,] urors, 
to  M-it: 

Martin  Hobart,  Oliver  Brown,  Samuel  Norton,  Joshua  Raymond, 
Kathan  Whitnej',  Curtis  Tomliuson,  Zebulon  I*ackard, Thomas  Annis, 
Zardius  Tousley,  Dudley  AYatson,  Seymour  B.  Murdoch,  Ephraini  Mas- 
ten,  Oliver  Booth,  2nd.,  Daniel  Gates,  Archibald  L.  Daniels,  Richard 
M'Omber,  Timothy  Ruggles,  Daniel  Reed,  Ethan  Craham,  John  Hall. 
>'hilo  Elmer,  -Joseph  Davis,  John  Sherwood. 

Four  causes  were  tried  ])y  jury,  viz.:  3Ioses  jiacon  \s.  (Tcr- 
shom  Proctor.  Samuel  Finch  vs.  Charles  Sayres.  Berjamiu  Bab- 
cock  vs.  Curtis  Tomliuson  and  Sophia  Ringsbnry.  Irene  r.each  vs. 
Henry  Drake. 

The  first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  (Tcueral  Session^,  lidd  in  and 
for  Orleans  county,  was  at  the  House  of  Selah  Bronson,  in  (iaines, 
June  32d,  1825.  Present,  Hon.  Elijah  Foot,  First  Judge,  Eldridge  Far- 
well,  Wm.  J.  3Ioody,  Wm.  Penniman  and  Cynis  Harwood,  Judges. 
The  members  of  the  Grand  Jury  at  this  Court  were  Ralph  H.  Brown. 
VFilliam  l.ove,  Harve}-  Goodrich,  Hiram  Sickels,  Henry  Carter,  Hiram 
t'risbie,  David  Sturges,  Joseph  Hamilton,  Levi  Preston,  John  Proctor, 
Robert  xVnderson,  Zelotes  Sheldon,  Sdas  Benton,  Ebenezer  M.  Pease. 
Ji.  A.  G.  li.  Grant,  Benjauiin  Howe,  Elijah  Bent,  Abraham  Cantine 
!;^ri  Wood  and  Oliver  Bennett. 

William  Lewis.  Sheritf.  Orange  Butler,  Dislrict  .MtenHv.  Orson 
Michoson,  Clerk. 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


Articles  of  Land,  given  by  Holland  Co.,  24. 

Animals,  "wild,  29. 

Anecdote  of  John  Anderson,  2o6. 

Acadeni)-,  First  in  County,  at  Gaines,  215,  250,  C.l. 

Albion,  Village  of,  179. 

Anecdote  of  locating  Court  House,  181. 

Address  before  Pioneer  Association,  by  Arad  Thomas,  42s. 

Appendix,  440. 

Assembly,  Members  of,  from  Orleans  County,  447. 

Attorneys,  District  of  Orleans  County,  44t». 

Busti,  3Ir.,  Anecdote  of,  2G. 

Beaver  and  beaver  dams,  o2. 

Black  Salts,  .J  1. 

Burying  Grounds.  Blount  Albion  Cemetery,  (!!).  Boxwood  Cemetery, 
71.     Hillside  Cemeterj',  71. 

Barre,  Tovvn  ot,  73.  Land  to  Religious  Societ}-,  74.  Condition  in  deed 
to  Congregational  Society,  74.  First  Presbyterian  Society,  75. 
Store,  Tavern,  75.  Survey  of  Oak  Orchard  Koad,  76.  First 
Lawyer,  Doctor,  Deed  of  Land,  7G.    Death  of  Mrs.  McCollister, 

77.  Warehouse,  Sawmill,  77.    Priceof  Lumber,  77.    First  Ball, 

78.  Fourth  of  July,  1821,  77.    First  Marriage  in  Albion,  7,8. 
First  Deed  of  Land  in,  70. 

Bear  Stories,  81,  87,  235, 134,  402. 

Burgess,  Mrs.  X.     Cut  logs  for  House,  211. 

Ball  at  Millville,  320. 

Barn,  first  in  Orleans  Count}-,  408. 

British  at  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  alarm  from.  S4. 

Counties  in  New  York  100  years  ago,  22. 

Clemency  of  Holland  Co.,  25. 

Clearing  land,  manner  of,  43.     First  crops  raised,  44. 

Credit  system,  52. 

Canal,  Erie,  when  begun,  55,  eflcct  of,  50. 

Court  House,  locating  ofj  181. 

Clarendon,  town  of,  l'J9.    First  town  meeting  in,  2U1. 

Carlton,  town  of,  185.  First  town  meeting  in,  197.  First  settlement  in 
the  County  by  Walsworth,  180.  .Manilla,  180.  31111  for  pound- 
ing corn,  18S.     Union  Company,  189. 


458  IM»KX. 

Carriage  seat  on  springs  of  wolf  trap,  2o8. 

Cemeterys,  69.    Mount  Albion,  CO.     Boxwood,  71.     Hillsiue,  71. 

Congregational  Society  in  Barre,  deed  of  land  to,  74. 

Cradle,  Pioneez-,  description  of,  S-). 

County  Clerk's  list  of  448. 

Courts  of  Record  in  Orleans  County,  li rsi,  4.')C>. 

County  Treasurers,  list  of,  449. 

Common  Schools,  County  Superiulendenls  oi,449. 

Domestic  manufactures,  52.     Clothing,  how  made,  .1;',. 

Doctor's  bill,  specimen  of,  248. 

Deer  hunting,  389. 

District  Attorneys,  list  of,  449. 

Ellicott,  Jo.,  agent,  23.     Anecdote  of,  2^)l\. 

Eagle  Harbor,  village  of,  200. 

Erie  Canal,  when  and  where  first  work  on,  55.    1  ts  benel'ls,  5(5. 

Education,  state  of,  G4.     Gaines  Aoademj^  05. 

Fortifications,  ancient,  14. 

Fish,  29. 

Friendship  among  settlers,  49. 

Fire,  loss  of,  anecdote,  210. 

Gospel  Lots,  2G. 

Genesee  County,  28. 

Gospel  Lot  in  Barre,  74. 

Gauntlet  run  by  E.  Hunt,  194. 

Gaines,  business  in,  when  County  organized,  250. 

(Jaines,  town  of,  210.    3Irs.  Burgess'  log  house,  211.    Capt.  3IcCart3^'s 

Company  in  war  of  1812,  313.    First  printing  press  there,  214. 

Booth's  tavern,  252.     Sam  AYooster,  253.     ]\Irs.  Booth  and  Jo, 

Ellicott,  254. 
Greenman,  Preserved,  anecdotes  ol",  403. 
Hundred  Thousand  Acre  Tract,  19. 
Holland  Purchase,  21. 
Ilackett,  violin  plaj-er,  378. 
Hedgehogs,  31. 

Hardships  of  settlers.    Domestic  mill,  40.    Fever  ajid  Ague,  40.    Brows- 
ing cattle,  47.    Keeping  five,  47. 
Highways,  public,  5S.     Bidge  road,  58.     0!;k  Orchard  loail,  59.     State 

road,  01.     Salt  Works  roads,  00. 
l4ollan(l  i>!nid  Comjtany,  names  of,  21.     Generosit^-of  agent,  101.     Do- 
nations to  School  Districts,  25.     Donations  of 
land  to  religious  societies,  20.     Anecdote  of 
Uev.  Mr.  Bawson  and  Mr.  Busti,  20. 
llolley,  village  of,  305.     Salt  found  there,  300.     Mammoth  tooth,  ;;!07- 

First  school  house  in,  307. 
Hunters  lodges,  245. 
Hidberton,  villiiiro  of.  30s. 


INDEX.  459 

Hindsbiirgli,  village  of,  oil. 

Indian  mill,  description  of,  278. 

Indians,  false  alarm,  8G,  338. 

Judges  of  County  Courts,  440. 

July  4,  1821,  celebration,  Barre,  78. 

Knowlesville,  village  ot,  373. 

Kendall,  tovrn  of,  269.    Public  library,  272.     Salt  making,  272.     Xor- 

Tvegians  in,  273. 
Land  office  ot  Holland  Company,  24. 
Log  house,  description  of,  3G. 

Furniture  of,  40. 
Lawsuit  before  Esq.  Chubb,  233. 
Library  in  Kendall,  272. 
Luther,  Eld.  Ben.,  style  of  preaching,  332. 
Lyndonville,  village  of,  4W>. 
Lumber,  price  of,  77. 
Millyard  tract,  18. 
Manufactures,  domestic,  52. 
Merchants,  early,  and  their  stores,  .il. 
Mails  and  post  offices,  53. 
Manilla,  186. 

3Iill  to  pound  corn,  186,  278. 
McCarty,  Capt,  Company  in  war  of  1812,  212,  88. 
Meeting  house,  lirst^ framed  in  County,  260. 
Mammoth  tooth  found  at  Holley,  307. 
Medina,  village  of,  367.     Stone  quarry,  372. 
Murray,  town  of,  288. 

Orleans  Count}-,  first  white  man  settled  in,  186. 
Phelps  and  Gorham's  Purchase,  16. 
Pre-emption  line,  17. 
Pultney.  Sir  \Ym.,  19. 
Peaches  and  apples,  33. 
Patriot  war,  248. 
Post  office,  first,  261. 

Porter,  Luther,  strategy  to  get  his  grist,  377. 
Pioneer  Association  of  Orleans  County,  426. 
Quails,  31. 

Rawsou,  Rev.  A.,  anecdote  of,  28. 
Rattlesnakes,  30. 

Ridge  Road,  when  traced  out,  59.     Surveyed,  58,  6ft. 
Railroads  in  Orleans  County,  63. 
Religion,  state;  of,  67.    First  meetings  in  Carlton,  67.     Rev.  Mr.  Steele, 

68.     Baptist  Church  in  Gaines,  68.     Building  fleeting  House 

in  Gaines,  68.     Specimen  preaching,  332. 
Ridge  road,  58.     "VVhcn  laid  out,  58.     Judge  Porters  account  of,  59. 
Ridgewav,  town  of,  313.     First  town  election  in,  84. 


460  INDEX. 

Railroads,  63. 

Sulliyans  Expeditiou,  12. 

School  House  sites,  25.  ' 

Salmon  and  other  fish,  oO. 

Schools  and  school  houses,  64.    Description  ot,  60.    Gaines  Academy, 

65.    Academies  at  Albion,  Yates,  Millville, 

Holley  and  Medina,  65. 
Salt  Works  roads,  60,  74. 
State  Road,  61. 

Sandy  Creek,  sickness  at,  103,  289. 
Salt  at  Holley,  306,  at  Medina,  314. 
Sawmill  at  Medina  first,  367. 
Shelby,  town  ot,  ;>76.    Deer  hunting-,  3811.     Dancing  in  a  gristmill,  378. 

How  Luther  Porter  got  his  grist  ,377. 
Supervisors  of  towns  in  Orleans  county,  450. 
Sherifl's  of  Orleans  county,  450. 
Surrogates  of  Orleans  county,  450. 
Triangle  Tract,  18 
Transit  Line,  20,  83. 
Trees,  kinds  of  in  Orleans  county,  21), 
Tonawanda  S«  amp,  33. 
Threshing  grain,  manner  of,  44. 
Taxes,  raising  money  to  pay,  by  S.  C.  Lewis,  220. 
Town  meeting,  first  in  county,  314. 
"  Things  I  can  remember,"  by  G.  E.  Mix,  165. 
Towns  in  the  county,  when  organized,  446. 
Treasurers  of  Orleans  county  ,449. 
L^niou  company  in  Carlton,  190. 
Villages  in  county,  446. 
Ward  Levi  &  Levi  A.,  agents,  19. 
Wood,  per  acre,  29. 
Wrestling,  ring  for,  50. 
Wagons,  one  horse,  57. 
Wedding  in  Albion,  story  of,  78. 
Yates,  town  of,  401. 
Yates  Center,  404.     Academv,  404. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


NAMES   OF  PERSONS  AXD  NUMBERS   OF  THE  PAGES   ON  WHICH 
THEY   OCCUR. 


Achilles,  Caroline,  P.,  1"). 
Allis,  Tliomas  W.,  150. 
Allison,  Jabez,  313. 
Anderson  Familj',  234. 
Angel,  Xatban,  103. 
Allis,  Maj.  William,  305. 
Allen,  Artemas,  372. 
Anderson,  Robert,  7N. 
Andrews,  Averj'  \.  359. 
Alwell,  Levi,  236. 
Busli,  Paul,  '2(1 
Bailey,  Lansing,  79. 
Bacon,  ^foses,  240. 
Balcora,  Abner,  301,  405. 
Barrett,  Amos,  334,  353. 
Barrett,  Xalium,  347. 
Barrett,  Sidney  S.,  354. 
Baker,  Mrs.  Laura  345. 
Benton,  Oliver  140. 
Beech,  Dr.  J.  II.,  346. 
Bessac,  Benjairiu  L.,  117. 
Bidelman,  Samufl,  34. 
Booth,  Oliver,  00,  351. 
Bowen,  Dr.  Elisha,  355,  410. 
Brown,  James,  54. 
Brown,  Jereiuiah,  335. 
Bryant,  Kenl)en,  303,  305. 
Burrows,  Roswell  S.,  76. 
Bunipus,  Philetus,  183. 
Bullard  Family,  331. 
Bumpus,  Jesse,  76,  178. 
Budd,  Jaseph,  308. 
Burroughs,  David,  304. 
Bullard,  Alfred,  416. 
Babbitt,  William  J.,  54,  58,  361. 


Barker,  Joseph.  153. 
Bates,  Samuel,  384. 
Banies,  Ezra  D.,  316. 
Barrett,  Lucius  334. 
Barrett,  Luther,  347. 
Bates,  Lyman,  330. 
Benton,  Mrs.  Silas,  75,  170. 
Beech,  Dr.  Jesse,  346. 
Bennett,  Isaac,  314. 
Billings  Family,  331. 
Bidelman,  Abram,  388. 
Booth,  Oliver,  3nd.,  255. 
Bradner,  Wm.,  76,  115,  183. 
Brown,  John  G.,  187. 
Brown,  Daniel,  264. 
Bradley,  Nathaniel,  146. 
Burrows,  Lorenzo,  157. 
Burgess,  Xoah,  211. 
Butler,  Orange,  333. 
Bushncll,  Harley  N.,  390. 
Burlingham,  Charles  D.,  330. 
Burroughs,  Silas  M.  394. 
Clark,  Jonathan, 134. 
Clark,  Robert,  378. 
Cantine,  Abram,  174. 
Cole,  Darius  W.,  59 
Cook,  Lemuel,  308. 
Cobb,  William  343. 
Coon,  Alexander,  397. 
Capeu,  Theophilus,  76. 
Cady,  Isaac,  309. 
Cole,  A.  Hyde,  76,  115. 
Cochrane,  AVilliam,  343. 
Coon,  Milo,  373. 
Coan  Sylvanus,  308. 


402 


INDEX. 


Curtis,  Henry  R.,  120,  70. 
Chubb,  Arba,  232. 
Curti.^,  XcAvman,  395. 
Chamberlain,  Fitch,  100. 
Church,  Ozias  S.  114. 
Churcli,  Samuel,  341. 
Chamberlain,  Royal,  407. 
Daniels,  Grosvenor,  58,  343. 
Davis,  Levi,  323. 
Day,  Austin,  297. 
Demara,  David,  388. 
Dutcher,  Elder  Simeon,  200. 
Drake,  Henry,  259. 
Daniels,  James,  342. 
Davis,  Perry,  225. 
Darrow,  XiehoMs  E.,  200. 
Douglass,  Israel,  317. 
Dunham,  Matthew,  18S. 
EUicott,  Andrew  A.,  59.  370,  390. 
Evans,  David  E.,  70,  378. 
Ellicott,  Joseph,  23,  253,  370. 
Evarts,  Martin,  208. 
Farwell,  Eldridge,  200,  207. 
Fellows,  Joseph,  20. 
Freeman,  Chester.  263. 
Foster,  Aden,  170. 
Fuller,  Lyman,  197. 
Farnham,  John,  236. 
Fairfield,  Walter,  218. 
Freeman,  Gideon,  262. 
Frisbie,  Hiram,  296. 
Fuller,  Edmund,  70. 
Gates,  Daniel,  193,  212. 
Green,  Andrew  H.,  103. 
Gresiory  Family,  380. 
CJregory  Matthew,  381. 
Grinnell,  John,  399. 
Goold,  Horace  O.,  415. 
Goodrich,  Ilarve}',  108. 
Grant,  L.  A.  G.  B.,  390. 
Gates,  Dr.  Richard  W.,  191. 
Greeuman,  Preserved,  403. 
Gregory,  Amos,  380. 
Gilbert,  Baruch  H.,  418. 
Gilbert,  AVidow,  212,  47. 
G rover.  Dr.  Tj.  C,  860. 


Gwynn,  William  R.,  70, 71. 
Hawley,  Hon.  Elijah  350,  53. 
Haines,  Jesse  P.,  01. 
Hallock,  Rufus,  133. 
Hart,  Elizur,  143. 
Henderson,  John,  184. 
Hewes,  Horatio  N.,  395. 
Hill,  Samuel,  223. 
Hopkins,  Caleb,  58. 
Hoag,  Peter,  363. 
Hunter,  Robert,  51. 
Hulbert,  Isaac  H.  S.,  309. 
Hawley,  Merwin  S.,  53. 
Hard,  Hon.  Gideon,  92. 
Hart,  .Joseph,  1G9. 
Hamlin,  Areovester,  304. 
Healey,  Dr.  E.  P.,  362. 
Hibbard,  Zenas  F.  124. 
Hinds,  Jacob,  296,  311. 
Hooker,  David,  340. 
Hood,  David,  364. 
Hunt,  Elijah,  194. 
Houseman,  George,  501. 
Ingersoll,  Nehemiah,  77, 159. 
Ingersoll,  Justus,  161. 
Jackson,  William,  349. 
.Johnson,  Rev.  AYm.,  75. 
.Jackson,  .James,  350. 
Jones,  David,  286. 
Knowles,  William,  355,  372. 
Kuck,  Rev.  George,  191. 
Lee,  Hon.  .John,  73. 
Lewis,  William,  208. 
Lewis,  Gideon,  229. 
Lee  Family,  172. 
Lewis,  Samuel  C,  228. 
LeYalley,  Johii,  351. 
Mattison,  Abram  75,  78. 
Marsh,  Ray,  196. 
3Iathcr,  Elihu,  259. 
Manlej',  Adiu,  273. 
Masten,  Mrs.  Nancy,  359. 
Mason,  Jesse,  132. 
Mather,  James,  256,  200,  214. 
Mather,  Rufus,  256. 
jMansfield,  Alanson..300. 


IXDKX. 


4C3 


McCurly,  Ciiptiihi  E.,  312. 

Mix,  Abiathar,  T."!. 

Mix,  Ebonezer,  75;  3Ipmoir  ot'  42 1. 

Monell,  Henry  '.'A. 

Moore,  Eli,  oKi. 

Murdock,  Seymour,  o42,  315. 

Mudgett,  Stephen  W.  405. 

McCollister  William,  77. 

Mix,  Mrs.  Lydia,  1C8. 

Mix,  George  C,  1C4,  165. 

Moody,  ^Villiam  J.,  70. 

Morse,  Jotham,  o91. 

Murdock,  Seymour  B.,  335. 

Morris,  Kobcrt,  17. 

Nichoson,  Dr.Orsou,  70,78, 110. 183 

Paine,  Dr.  L.  C,  70. 

Peck,  Linus  Jones,  100. 

Perry,  Joseph  L.,  329. 

Preston,  William  X.  342. 

Pettengill,  Benjamin  G.,  204. 

Pierce,  Aretas.  292, 

Porter,  Allen,  142. 

Potter,  Dr.  Stephen  M.,  183. 

Phelp.s  ct  Gorham,  IG. 

Rawsou,  Kev.  Andrew,  20,  109. 

Parsons,  John,  70. 

Peck,  Horace,  201. 

Peny,  Josiah,  410. 

Pratt,  Daniel,  203. 

Penniman,  William,  131. 

Porter,  Augustus.  59. 

Porter,  Luther,  157. 

Proctor,  John,  220. 

Eandall,  Amos,  2S5. 

Heed  Family,  310. 

Kice,  Hubbard,  29;;. 

Rogers,  Ebenezer,  95. 

Root,  Reuben  407. 

Rice,  Enos,  150. 

Roor,  Amos,  32,  34,  113. 

Robinson,  Chauncey,  294. 

Ruggles,  William  W.,  264. 

Salsiiurv,  Samuel,  224. 


Sawyer,  ElisLa,  418. 

Sturiv weather,  A.  M.,  113. 

Street,  Lucius,  140. 

Spencer,  Amos,  417. 

Swift,  Philetus,  58. 

Smith,  Mrs.  Sally,  298. 

Stone,  Enos  30. 

Strong,  John  W.,  305. 

Sauford,  Asa.  90. 

Saxe,  Peter,  404. 

Spafford,  Brad.street,  205. 

Steele,  liev.  Mr.  08. 

Shelly,  Xathan,  230. 

Smith,  ]\Ioses,  141. 

Shipmau,  Job,  190. 

Skinner,  Jarvis  M.  145. 

Strong,  Timothy  C.  111. 

Southworth,  Darius,  394. 

Tanner,  Gen.  William  C.,318. 

Tappan.  Hon.  Samuel,  410. 

Tripp,  Anthon}',  141. 

Thurston,  Stephen  B.  133. 

Tyler,  John  IL,  memoir  of,  414. 

Tanner,  Josias.  333. 

Treadwell,  Richard,  210. 

Thurston,  Caleb  C,  88. 

Tanner,  William,  125. 

Turner,  Otis,  314,  341. 

Van  Brockliu,  John,  379. 

Ward,  Dr.  Levi,  19. 

AVard,  Hon.  Alexis,  171. 

AValsworth,  James  186. 

Weld,  Andrew,  348. 

Whitney,  Xathan,  112. 

Whaley,  Dr.  Christopher,  348,  379 

Ward.LeviA.  19. 

Walsworth,  AVilliam,  isc. 

Weld,  Thomas,  341. 

White,  Dr.  William,  77,  314.  75. 

Wood,  Elijah  W.,  298. 

Yates,  town  of,  401. 

Zimmennan,  Jacob  A.,  398. 


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